Modification of diatomite with Zn or/and Fe and its application as a catalyst for phenol decomposition in the Fenton-type reaction system

In this paper, diatomite was modified with Zn or/and Fe by hydrothermal method. The material was characterized by using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The catalytic activity of the material was evaluated through the oxidation reaction of phenol with hydrogen peroxide. The results showed that the diatomite modified with Fe or Zn-Fe mixture has high catalytic activity, and phenol can be completely oxidized on these catalysts to form simple carboxyl acids. The Zn-diatomite composite has almost no catalytic activity in the Fenton-type reaction system, but the simultaneous modification of Zn and Fe on diatomite has increased the durability and reusability of the catalytic material.