In recent years, numerous hazardous organic substances have been detected in water bodies, such as organochlorinated pesticides. Most water treatments can not achieve the removal of these substances. Therefore, alternative treatments have been investigated. Photocatalytic processes with ferrites as catalysts have been some of the most researched treatments. Ferrites are chemical compounds formed by iron oxides, Fe₂O₃ and FeO, with unique properties, including high adsorption capacity, good stability, sunlight activity, and tunable magnetic, electrical, and optical properties which gives them potential as catalysts in the degradation of several water pollutants. Their main components can be partly changed by other transition metal oxides or ions to improve their properties. Therefore, different ferrites (MFe₂O₄, M= Mn²⁺; FeM₂O₄, M= Co³⁺) were prepared by a hydrothermal method to study their photocatalytic potential for the degradation of organochlorinated pesticides, such as aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane. The maximum possible degradation of these pesticides, as well as the synthesis, were taken using magnetite (Fe₃O₄) as reference. Thanks to the magnetic properties of these ferrites, the remaining catalysts can be easily recovered with a commercial magnet. Dynamic Light Scattering was performed to calculate the particle size and dispersion stability. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the theoretical band gap of magnetite. TEM-EDS will be performed to confirm the particle size and determine particle shape and size distribution, as well as the elemental composition of the catalysts to verify the formation of metal ferrites. The maximum degradation of organochlorinated pesticides for MnFe₂O₄ and FeCo₂O₄ composites will be studied through a photocatalytic oxidation process under solar light, based on the Fenton oxidation process.

Carlos Huerta

Appearances