Chapter 15
MoS 2 Applications in Photo-Fenton
Technology
15.1 The Brief Introduction of Fenton Technology
Wastewater arising from different chemical industries like resin manufacturing,
petrochemical, oil refineries, paper making, and textile industry has high concentration of organics and their derivatives which are extremely toxic and refractory to the
environment. The presence of organic compounds in wastewater, surface water, and
groundwater poses serious threat to humans’ health. Thus, its removal from contaminated water is of high priority. The conventional treatment methods like biotechnology are not effective in some fields. Consequently, the need of more efficient
treatment methods is imperative. In recent years, oxidation processes are preferred to
degrade pollutants.
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been described as a promising choice
to remove persistent pollutants from contaminated water. Additionally, AOPs
require less energy than direct oxidation [1–3]. Typically, AOPs are operated
under ambient temperature and pressure, which involve the generation of hydroxyl
radicals in sufficient quantity to achieve water purification [4]. The hydroxyl radicals
as highly reactive species are able to break the structure of most organic molecules
with rate constants in the order of 10
6
–10
9 mol/L• [5]. The reduction potential of
various oxidants is shown in Table 15.1. Hydroxyl radical is the second strongest
oxidant followed fluorine, and it reacts about 1000 times faster than ozone
depending on the substrate to be degraded [6]. Classified by the reactive phase,
AOPs contain homogeneous and heterogeneous phases. One of the most commonly
used AOPs for dealing contaminants is Fenton process. The generated hydroxyl
radicals in Fenton process possess inherent properties that enable it to achieve a
complete mineralization of organic molecules into CO 2 , water, and mineral acids
such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, and nitric acids [7–9].
Fenton’s reagent was discovered about 100 years ago, but its application as an
oxidation process for decomposing toxic organics was not applied until the late
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018
J. Zhang et al., Photocatalysis, Lecture Notes in Chemistry 100,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2113-9_15
367
MoS 2 Applications in Photo-Fenton
Technology
15.1 The Brief Introduction of Fenton Technology
Wastewater arising from different chemical industries like resin manufacturing,
petrochemical, oil refineries, paper making, and textile industry has high concentration of organics and their derivatives which are extremely toxic and refractory to the
environment. The presence of organic compounds in wastewater, surface water, and
groundwater poses serious threat to humans’ health. Thus, its removal from contaminated water is of high priority. The conventional treatment methods like biotechnology are not effective in some fields. Consequently, the need of more efficient
treatment methods is imperative. In recent years, oxidation processes are preferred to
degrade pollutants.
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been described as a promising choice
to remove persistent pollutants from contaminated water. Additionally, AOPs
require less energy than direct oxidation [1–3]. Typically, AOPs are operated
under ambient temperature and pressure, which involve the generation of hydroxyl
radicals in sufficient quantity to achieve water purification [4]. The hydroxyl radicals
as highly reactive species are able to break the structure of most organic molecules
with rate constants in the order of 10
6
–10
9 mol/L• [5]. The reduction potential of
various oxidants is shown in Table 15.1. Hydroxyl radical is the second strongest
oxidant followed fluorine, and it reacts about 1000 times faster than ozone
depending on the substrate to be degraded [6]. Classified by the reactive phase,
AOPs contain homogeneous and heterogeneous phases. One of the most commonly
used AOPs for dealing contaminants is Fenton process. The generated hydroxyl
radicals in Fenton process possess inherent properties that enable it to achieve a
complete mineralization of organic molecules into CO 2 , water, and mineral acids
such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, and nitric acids [7–9].
Fenton’s reagent was discovered about 100 years ago, but its application as an
oxidation process for decomposing toxic organics was not applied until the late
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018
J. Zhang et al., Photocatalysis, Lecture Notes in Chemistry 100,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2113-9_15
367