Enhanced Redox Cycle of Rod-Shaped MIL-88A/SnFe2O4@MXene Sheets for Fenton-like Degradation of Congo Red: Optimization and Mechanism

Eman M Abd El-Monaem; Nouf Al Harby; Mervette El Batouti; Abdelazeem S Eltaweil

doi:10.3390/nano14010054

Enhanced Redox Cycle of Rod-Shaped MIL-88A/SnFe₂O₄@MXene Sheets for Fenton-like Degradation of Congo Red: Optimization and Mechanism

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023 Dec 24;14(1):54. doi: 10.3390/nano14010054.

Authors

Eman M Abd El-Monaem¹, Nouf Al Harby², Mervette El Batouti¹, Abdelazeem S Eltaweil^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21934, Egypt.
² Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Sultanate of Oman.

Abstract

This study intended to fabricate a novel Fenton-like catalyst by supporting the rod-like MIL-88A and the magnetic tin ferrite nanoparticles (SnFe₂O₄) on the MXene sheets (MIL-88A/SnFe₂O₄@MXene). The well fabrication and determination of the MIL-88A/SnFe₂O₄@MXene properties were investigated using SEM, XPS, VSM, Zeta potential, XRD, and FTIR tools. The Fenton-like degradation reaction of CR by MIL-88A/SnFe₂O₄@MXene was thoroughly studied to identify the optimal proportions of the catalyst components, the impact of CR and H₂O₂ concentrations, as well as the effect of raising the temperature and the pH medium of the catalytic system and the catalyst dosage. Kinetics studies were executed to analyze the decomposition of CR and H₂O₂ using First-order and Second-order models. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism was proposed based on the scavenging test that proceeded in the presence of chloroform and t-butanol, in addition to the XPS analysis that clarified the participation of the containing metal species: Fe, Sn, and Ti, and the formation of a continual redox cycle. The obtained intermediates during the CR degradation were defined by GC-MS. A recyclability test was performed on MIL-88A/SnFe₂O₄@MXene during five runs of the Fenton-like degradation of CR molecules. Finally, the novel MIL-88A/SnFe₂O₄@MXene Fenton-like catalyst could be recommended as a propitious heterogeneous catalyst with a continuous redox cycle and a recyclability merit.

Keywords: Fenton-like reaction; MXene; mechanism; redox reactions; synergistic effect.

Grants and funding

The researchers would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research, Qassim University, for funding publication of this project (2023-FFT-BSRC-37604).