Extraction of iron from laterite soil and green synthesis of laterite nano iron catalyst (GLaNICs) for its application as Fenton's catalyst in the degradation of triclosan

Abstract

Laterite based nano iron particles were synthesized using natural laterite extract as a precursor and Psidium guajava plant extract for its application as Fenton's catalyst in the degradation of triclosan. Chemical digestion method was used for the extraction of iron from laterite soil. Synthesized nano iron catalyst was characterized using SEM – EDS, XRD and FTIR and evaluated for its catalytic application in the Fenton oxidation of triclosan. Maximum triclosan degradation of 69.5 % was observed with nano iron catalyst dosage of 0.1 g/L and hydrogen peroxide dosage of 200 mg/L at acidic pH of 3. Hydrogen peroxide influence on the process was observed with Fenton's oxidation. Role of iron in the process has been accessed by control experiment with no nano catalyst addition in which degradation is considerable low. Fenton's oxidation was compared with conventional Fenton's oxidation driven by a green nano iron catalyst. Study claims the usage of natural laterite iron as a replacement for commercial iron in Fenton's degradation of triclosan. Regeneration and Reusability studies on catalyst were studied and synthesized catalyst was observed to be reusable in three consecutive cycles. Degradation of triclosan in Fenton's oxidation follows pseudo-second order reaction with linear fit.