Recent Advances in the Development of Novel Iron–Copper Bimetallic Photo Fenton Catalysts

BOSIO, GABRIELA N.; GARCÍA EINSCHLAG, FERNANDO S.; CARLOS, LUCIANO; MÁRTIRE, DANIEL O.

Catalysts

MDPI

Lugar: Basilea; Año: 2023 vol. 13

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been postulated as viable, innovative, andefficient technologies for the removal of pollutants from water bodies. Among AOPs, photo-Fentonprocesses have been shown to be effective for the degradation of various types of organic compoundsin industrial wastewater.  Monometallic iron catalysts are limited in practical applications due totheir low catalytic activity, poor stability, and recyclability. On the other hand, the development ofcatalysts based on copper oxides has become a current research topic due to their advantages suchas strong light absorption, high mobility of charge carriers, low environmental toxicity, long-termstability, and low production cost. For these reasons, great efforts have been made to improve thepractical applications of heterogeneous catalysts, and the bimetallic iron–copper materials havebecome a focus of research. In this context, this review focuses on the compilation of the most relevantstudies on the recent progress in the application of bimetallic iron–copper materials in heterogeneousphoto–Fenton-like reactions for the degradation of pollutants in wastewater.  Special attention ispaid to the removal efficiencies obtained and the reaction mechanisms involved in the photo–Fentontreatments with the different catalysts.