Cross effects between water matrix and catechol on the photo-Fenton process: Minimizing the inhibition of inorganic anions and implications on photon absorption
- 1Grupo de Procesos de Oxidación Avanzada, Campus de Alcoy, Universitat Politècnica de València, Plaza Ferrándz y Carbonell s/n, 03801, Alcoy, Spain
- 2Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València, Avenida de los Naranjos, 46022, Valencia, Spain
Abstract
Photo-Fenton process is ruled by complexation of Fe(III); in particular, some inorganic ions inactivate Fe(III) by forming inactive complexes, while some organic ligands, such as catechol (CAT) are able to enhance the performance of the process. The cross effect of both, inorganic anions (F − , Cl − , Br − and BO 3 3− , present in seawater, and PO 4 3− commonly found in agricultural effluents) and CAT has been investigated. For this purpose, a mixture of six pollutants has been used as target. Among anions present in seawater, F − and Br − showed the strongest inhibitory effect at a concentration of 17 mM, which could only be partly removed by the presence of CAT. The nature of the inhibitory effect is different; while F − inactivates Fe(III) by forming complexes that prevent Fe(II) regeneration, Br − acts as scavenger for ·OH. When working at more realistic concentration, inhibition was significantly eliminated, but for Br − , in line with CAT being efficient at avoiding Fe(III) inactivation but not to prevent ·OH scavenging. Experiments with real seawater have demonstrated the efficiency of CAT, despite CAT/Fe ratios above 3 are required. For phosphates, experimental design methodology was used the determine the effect of pH, CAT/Fe and phosphate/Fe. CAT/Fe > 3 where required and the interference was stronger at higher phosphate/Fe ratio. Finally, it has ben shown that efficiency of Fe-CAT system is ruled by the volumetric rate of photon absorption (VRPA) but also by the ability of Fe(CAT) complex, to give an internal electron transfer between CAT and Fe.
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BibTeX
@article{valles2026cross,
title = {{Cross effects between water matrix and catechol on the photo-Fenton process: Minimizing the inhibition of inorganic anions and implications on photon absorption}},
author = {Iván Vallés and Jordi Silvestre and Margarita Mora and Pau Micó Tormos and Ana María Amat and Alberto Blázquez‐Moraleja and Lucas Santos‐Juanes and Antonio Arques},
journal = {Chemical Engineering Journal},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1016/j.cej.2026.177387},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.177387},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cross effects between water matrix and catechol on the photo-Fenton process: Minimizing the inhibition of inorganic anions and implications on photon absorption
AU - Iván Vallés
AU - Jordi Silvestre
AU - Margarita Mora
AU - Pau Micó Tormos
AU - Ana María Amat
AU - Alberto Blázquez‐Moraleja
AU - Lucas Santos‐Juanes
AU - Antonio Arques
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/15
JO - Chemical Engineering Journal
DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2026.177387
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.177387
AB - Photo-Fenton process is ruled by complexation of Fe(III); in particular, some inorganic ions inactivate Fe(III) by forming inactive complexes, while some organic ligands, such as catechol (CAT) are able to enhance the performance of the process. The cross effect of both, inorganic anions (F − , Cl − , Br − and BO 3 3− , present in seawater, and PO 4 3− commonly found in agricultural effluents) and CAT has been investigated. For this purpose, a mixture of six pollutants has been used as target. Among anions present in seawater, F − and Br − showed the strongest inhibitory effect at a concentration of 17 mM, which could only be partly removed by the presence of CAT. The nature of the inhibitory effect is different; while F − inactivates Fe(III) by forming complexes that prevent Fe(II) regeneration, Br − acts as scavenger for ·OH. When working at more realistic concentration, inhibition was significantly eliminated, but for Br − , in line with CAT being efficient at avoiding Fe(III) inactivation but not to prevent ·OH scavenging. Experiments with real seawater have demonstrated the efficiency of CAT, despite CAT/Fe ratios above 3 are required. For phosphates, experimental design methodology was used the determine the effect of pH, CAT/Fe and phosphate/Fe. CAT/Fe > 3 where required and the interference was stronger at higher phosphate/Fe ratio. Finally, it has ben shown that efficiency of Fe-CAT system is ruled by the volumetric rate of photon absorption (VRPA) but also by the ability of Fe(CAT) complex, to give an internal electron transfer between CAT and Fe.
SN - 1385-8947
SN - 1873-3212
ER -