Heterogeneous Fenton process optimization with Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocatalyst in stabilized landfill leachate treatment

Amanda Gondim Cabral Quirino; Joelda Dantas; Arthur Marinho Cahino; Iana Chaiene de Araujo Vidal; Fabiana Costa Bezerra; Elisângela Maria Rodrigues Rocha

doi:10.5327/Z2176-94782311

Authors

Amanda Gondim Cabral Quirino Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0188-275X
Joelda Dantas Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2512-8089
Arthur Marinho Cahino Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8537-644X
Iana Chaiene de Araujo Vidal Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2913-1907
Fabiana Costa Bezerra Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6951-8884
Elisângela Maria Rodrigues Rocha Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7024-6979

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-94782311

Keywords:

ferrite, decolorization, color number, response surface methodology (RSM), advanced oxidative process (AOP)

Abstract

Landfill leachates are highly complex and recalcitrant effluents, exhibiting high pollution potential when not subjected to proper treatment. The heterogeneous Fenton process with Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄nanocatalyst was applied to optimize the decolorization of stabilized raw landfill leachate, considering the color number in terms of the spectral absorption coefficient. For this, the central composite design (CCD) and the response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize the operating parameters: pH, catalyst concentration, and H₂O₂ factor. Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), textural analysis using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and the Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BET-BJH) method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). According to the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the model generated by experimental data regression was statistically significant, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.96. The optimal point defined by the response surfaces corresponded to the values of H₂O₂ factor 1.14, pH 8.02, and catalyst concentration 0.66 g L^-1, whose combination of values resulted in a theoretical response of 89.70% decolorization of the leachate. The validation tests revealed an excellent fit between the value predicted by the model and the values obtained experimentally. The reproducibility of the optimized condition is limited to stabilized leachates. Under the optimized condition, the heterogeneous Fenton process, when compared to the isolated H₂O₂ and Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄processes, provided higher absorbance removals of simple and conjugated aromatic compounds, as well as the integrated spectral area from 200 to 800 nm, thus revealing its effectiveness in the treatment of landfill leachate, considering the parameters analyzed, and its contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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