Nanoparticle-aided AOP for Treatment of Benzoic Acid

Advanced oxidation process (AOP) degrades a number of non-degradable organic compounds in low concentrations, saving time and energy. Benzoic acid and its derivatives are readily used in pharmacy, textile, and dyes industries. Through these applications, benzoin acid enters the ecosystem, which leads to its accumulation and various health hazards. In the present study, the degradation of Benzoic acid was studied using Iron nanoparticles as heterogeneous photocatalyst and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent. This paper also discusses the synthesis of Fe nanoparticles via hydrothermal process at ordinary temperature and elevated temperature. The powder samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). The percentage degradation of benzoic acid using goethite (α-FeOOH) and hematite (α-Fe2O3) was 49.02% and 90.90% with the nano concentrations of 0.07g and 0.05g, respectively using visible light, in addition, the hydrothermal model of nanoparticle synthesis proved affordable, efficient and eco-friendly.

Keywords: Advanced oxidation process (AOP), Hydrothermal process, Nanoparticles, Non-degradable, Photocatalyst, Heterogeneous, Goethite, Hematite, Iron nanoparticles