Fast and Efficient Dye Elimination Over One-Pot Synthesized and Si-Rich [Fe]-ZSM-5 Catalyst in Electro-Fenton Process

Abstract

Synthetic organic dyes contaminate the aquatic environment. A fast and efficient preparation of catalysts plays a vital role in wastewater treatment to reduce costs and increase its market. In this study, we prepared different Si-rich ZSM-5 catalysts (Si/Al = 200) through the one-pot synthesis and impregnation technique that include Fe species. The catalysts were applied in heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) to remove methylene blue (MB), an organic dye which is a model compound for water contaminants. The parent and modified catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, NH₃-TPD, and N₂ adsorption–desorption methods. The results showed the well crystalline framework (89%), high surface area (359 m² g⁻¹), mesopore structure (0.05 cm³ g⁻¹), and uniform distribution of the Fe species. The optimum operating conditions for the [Fe]-ZSM-5 catalyst were pH = 4, applied current of 100 mA, and catalyst concentration of 0.1 g L⁻¹, which resulted in the highest MB removal (98%) in 15 min through the HEF process. The results confirm the applicability of the one-pot synthesis of the [Fe]-ZSM-5 catalyst.