Optimization and comparative study of FeMn bimetallic catalysts for phenol degradation under controlled groundwater conditions: H2O2 vs. S2O82− activation

Phenol contamination in groundwater poses significant environmental risks due to its persistence and toxicity. In this study, FeMn bimetallic catalysts were synthesized via a co-precipitation method and characterized comprehensively using XRD, XPS, FTIR, and SEM-EDS. Batch experiments under simulate...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sungjik Oh, Soyoung Baek, Jiyeol Bae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025013040
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Summary:Phenol contamination in groundwater poses significant environmental risks due to its persistence and toxicity. In this study, FeMn bimetallic catalysts were synthesized via a co-precipitation method and characterized comprehensively using XRD, XPS, FTIR, and SEM-EDS. Batch experiments under simulated groundwater conditions compared the catalytic performance of hydrogen peroxide and persulfate activation systems for phenol degradation. Statistical analyses using ANOVA identified oxidant concentration and pH as the most significant factors affecting the degradation rate, while FeMn dosage played a moderate role. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) combined with ridge regression was then employed to optimize the operating conditions. The optimized conditions, acidic pH (3–5), moderate H₂O₂ concentration (approximately 5–8 mM), and an FeMn dosage near 25 mg, achieved over 90 % phenol removal and yielded a high predictive accuracy (adjusted R² = 0.97). Notably, the catalyst maintained appreciable activity at near-neutral pH, demonstrating its potential for practical groundwater remediation where strictly acidic conditions are difficult to maintain. These results underscore that FeMn bimetallic catalysts offer a robust and versatile alternative to conventional Fe-only systems for sustainable and efficient treatment of phenol-contaminated groundwater.
ISSN:2590-1230