Utilization of waste citrus limetta peel for the green synthesis of iron catalyst and its subsequent application in fluidized-bed Fenton-like process for environmental sustainable treatment of organic pollutant

This work focuses on the environmental friendly synthesis of an iron-based catalyst utilizing extract from waste citrus limetta peels. The main objective is to encourage the sustainable use of bio-waste materials in catalytic processes. This innovative method demonstrates the efficacy of bio-derived materials in catalysis by removing the need for hazardous chemicals. The green-synthesized catalyst was analyzed using many characterization methods, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). These analyzed results give insightful information on the physicochemical properties of green-synthesized catalysts. Furthermore, the prepared catalyst was utilized in a fluidized-bed reactor to facilitate the Fenton degradation of dye effluent, with a specific focus on the commonly used Eosin yellow (EY) dye. The iron catalyst derived from plant-based waste material accomplished an impressive 98% degradation of EY within a 90-minute time frame under optimized working conditions, using a minimal quantity of catalyst. An in-depth analysis was conducted to study the kinetics and process mass transfer in order to improve the comprehension of catalytic processes occurring in the fluidized-bed reactor. The Fenton decomposition of dye effluent is likely to be explained by first-order reaction kinetics. Additionally, confirmed enhanced catalytic durability and decreased deactivation of surface sites of the prepared catalyst after three consecutive oxidation cycles. These findings underscore the potential of this approach in sustainable wastewater treatment, highlighting both its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.