Low cost effective heterogeneous photo‐Fenton catalyst from drinking water treatment residuals for reactive blue 19 degradation: Preparation and characterization

Four different catalysts from drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) were prepared via impregnation in the iron nitrate, calcined at different temperatures ranged from 200°C to 500°C, and tested for the reactive blue 19 oxidation using the heterogeneous photo‐Fenton, under UVA light source. XRD and XPS results revealed that iron nature was found under a ferric oxide form (Fe 3+ ) similar to the magnetite. Calcination temperature results showed a significant effect on the activity of the catalysts. RB19 and TOC removals were 99% and 79%, respectively, with the best catalyst that calcined at 500°C in optimal conditions as follows: initial pH solution = 3, 10 mM of H 2 O 2 dosage, 0.5 g/L of catalyst loading, reaction temperature 35°C, and I UVA  = 3.55 MW/cm 2 for 50 mg/L of RB19. The reusability of the catalyst after three cycles showed complete removal of RB19 and 65% TOC removal. Practitioner points Synthetized heterogeneous photo‐Fenton catalyst from drinking water treatment residuals for the photo Fenton oxidation. The calcination temperatures plays a crucial role in catalyst photocatalytic activity. Degradation of reactive blue 19 with Fe/DWTR‐500 in presence of H 2 O 2 . The Fe/DWTR‐500 catalyst exhibited the best photocatalytic activity. Reusability studies of Fe/DWTR‐500 and the kinetics of reactive blue 19 degradation were investigated.