A novel nanocomposite of iron oxide and silicate, prepared through a reaction between a solution
of iron salt and a dispersion of Laponite clay, was used as a catalyst for the photoassisted Fenton
degradation of azo-dye Orange II. This catalyst is much cheaper than the Nafion-based catalysts,
and our results illustrate that it can significantly accelerate the degradation of Orange II under
the irradiation of UV light (λ = 254 nm). An advantage of the catalyst is its long-term stability
that was confirmed through using the catalyst for multiple runs in the degradation of Orange
II. The effects of the H2O2 molar concentration, solution pH, wavelength and power of the UV
light, catalyst loading, and initial Orange II concentration on the degradation of Orange II were
studied in detail. In addition, it was also found that discoloration of Orange II undergoes a
faster kinetics than mineralization of Orange II and 75% total organic carbons of 0.1 mM Orange
II can be eliminated after 90 min in the presence of 1.0 g of Fe-nanocomposite/L, 4.8 mM H2O2,
and 1 × 8W UVC.