Synergistic Removal of Typical Heavy Metal and Organic Contaminants via FeS 2 /α-FeOOH/C from Electronic Industry Wastewater: Insights for Selective Degradation and Promotion

Jinqun Zhou (), Wei Zhang, Qinghui Liu, Gang Chen, Mengbo Yan, Yanxiao Chi and Kunlun Yang ()
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Jinqun Zhou: Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518117, China
Wei Zhang: Wuxi Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Wuxi 214028, China
Qinghui Liu: Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518117, China
Gang Chen: Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518117, China
Mengbo Yan: Wuxi Shennan Circuits Co., Ltd., Wuxi 214028, China
Yanxiao Chi: School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Kunlun Yang: School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: The simultaneous and sustainable removal of a typical heavy metal (Cr(VI)) and benzoic acid (HBA) via an FeS 2 /α-FeOOH/C/visible light system without consumption of extra reductive or oxidizing agents was performed to study the influence of HBA degradation on Cr(VI) reduction. The results showed that the influence order of different HBA options in accelerating Cr(VI) reduction was as follows: o-HBA > p-HBA > p-CBA > blank > m-HBA. With the addition of o-HBA, the Cr(VI) removal rate constant was increased by 1.5 times (0.047 to 0.119 min −1 ). Almost 100% of Cr(VI) and 70% of o-HBA were removed within 60 min under the initial Cr(VI) and o-HBA concentrations of 10 and 5 mg/L. Quenching experiments indicated that photogenerated e − and •O 2 − played an important role in Cr(VI) reduction, while photogenerated h + and its derived •OH contributed to HBA degradation. Due to •O 2 − and •OH, separately ascribed to photogenerated e − and h + , the timely consumption of •O 2 − and •OH accelerated the separation and generation of photogenerated carriers, further improving light utilization efficiency and resulting in synergetic improved removal performance for both Cr(VI) and o-HBA. Theoretical calculations indicated the electron-donating ability of hydroxy groups in o-HBA was better than that in other HBA, making the activation energy for addition reaction with •OH lower. Hence, •OH would be consumed more quickly, leading to a higher promotion effect from o-HBA on Cr(VI) reduction. The real wastewater treatment experiment indicated the high applicability of synthesized FeS 2 /α-FeOOH/C for synergetic and sustainable removal of Cr(VI) and coexisting organic pollutants in electronic industry wastewater.

Keywords: electronic industry wastewater; photocatalysis; synergistic removal; Cr(VI); benzoic acids (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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