Goethite (α-FeOOH) photocatalytic activity at natural concentrations by
the addition of H 2 O 2 at neutral pH and the simultaneous presence of
fluoride and bicarbonate.
Abstract
The effect of the simultaneous presence of fluorine (0.15-1.2 mg L
-1), bicarbonates (83.6-596 mg L
-1), and synthesized goethite (0.3 mg L
-1) at typical concentrations often found in natural
groundwater samples was evaluated on the degradation of
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at pH 6.9 under simulated
sunlight irradiation (300 W m -2) and H
2O 2 concentrations of 10 mg L
-1. 2,4-D removal was strongly enhanced by the
presence of fluoride. F - could modify the surface of
iron (hydr)oxide leading to the formation of surficial Fe-F bonds
benefiting the formation of free •OH radicals,
producing upward band bending, reducing the electron-hole recombination,
and enhancing the electron transfer to H 2O
2. On the other hand, bicarbonate may react with
•OH radicals generating CO 3
-• species which could be able to participate in
pollutant oxidation as well while solar light-induced H
2O 2 photolysis also played an important
role in removing 2,4-D. These findings suggest that “natural” tuning
of iron (hydr)oxides by fluoride could take place in natural groundwater
generating “natural” photocatalysts with a high activity which could
participate, by adding H 2O 2, in the
enhancing of sunlight photoinduced natural abiotic processes to
pollutants abatement.