Ambient-temperature catalytic degradation of aromatic compounds on iron oxide nanorods supported on carbon nanofiber sheet

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> nanorods loaded on carbon nanofiber sheet (Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/CNF) was found to be active in degrading aromatic pollutants spontaneously under the dark and ambient conditions without using any chemical reagent or external energy to assist the degradation reaction. The removal of aromatic pollutants was not caused by adsorption but by oxidative degradation since the generation of degradation intermediates and products was observed. The Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/CNF exhibited selective degradation activities for aromatic-compounds. Degradation was induced by Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/CNF only, whereas neither iron oxide nor bare CNF alone exhibited any degradation activity. The degradation on the Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/CNF was enabled only in the presence of dissolved O<SUB>2</SUB> of which reduction led to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is proposed that electrons spontaneously transfer from aromatic-compound to O<SUB>2</SUB> viaFe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/CNF with initiating the oxidative degradation and the concurrent ROS generation. The direct electron transfer from organic compound to Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/CNF, which lead to oxidative degradation.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Iron oxide/CNF spontaneously decomposes pollutants under dark and ambient conditions. </LI> <LI> Neither iron oxide nor CNF alone shows any degradation activity. </LI> <LI> Iron oxide/CNF exhibits selective degradation activities for aromatic compounds. </LI> <LI> Electron transfer from aromatic compounds to iron oxide/CNF causes ROS generation. </LI> <LI> Sheet form of catalyst is easily handled and recoverable. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>