Treatment of textile dyes with steel flakes via Fenton and Electro-Fenton processes: An experimental analysis

The textile production process is well recognised as one of the most water-intensive industries, with an estimated daily water consumption of several thousand cubic metres. The main objective of the study is to remove the colour and COD of three reactive dyes namely reactive blue, reactive yellow and reactive black by Fenton and Electro Fenton Process. In this research paper, new novel catalyst steel flakes have been employed as part of the Fenton and Electro-Fenton process, replacing the conventional Fenton and Electro-Fenton catalyst. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) was done to characterize the steel flakes. The pH, dye concentration, FeSO 4 dosage and H 2 O 2 dosage were studied. The maximum colour and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal in Fenton process was 98.47% and 74% respectively. In Electro Fenton Oxidation the maximum colour and COD removal was 99.65% and 78% respectively. The best colour and COD removal was observed by Fenton and Electro Fenton oxidation with optimum Fenton molar ratio of 50:1 and pH 3 in all three dyes. In the laboratory-scale feasibility tests on the Electro-Fenton process, the highest colour removal effectiveness was observed at catalyst dosages of 1 g/L, 132 mM H 2 O 2 , and pH 3. The novel modified heterogeneous Electro-Fenton approach presents a distinct cost-effectiveness benefit in comparison to both the conventional Electro-Fenton reaction and the Electro-Fenton reaction employing alternative iron sources.