pH INFLUENCE IN PHOTO-FENTON PROCESSES USING Fe-PILCs AS CATALYST

Catalytic activity of an iron pillared clay (Fe-PILCs) in the heterogeneous photo-Fenton degradation of methyl orange is reported. Fe-PILCs were prepared from a natural clay using different calcination temperatures: 350 degrees C y 500 degrees C. The resulting solids were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption. No significant differences were observed for textural parameters (specific surface area and pore volume). The influence of the medium's pH on the catalytic process was studied and it was observed that the removal of methyl orange was successful at pH 3 but not at pH 6. This fact can be explained by changes in the polarity of the dye molecule that affects the dye adsorption on the clay. At pH 3, the influence of different parameters involved in the catalytic process was studied.