Treatment of fertilizer industry wastewater by catalytic peroxidation process using copper-loaded SBA-15

Abstract

The present study reports use of the catalytic peroxidation (CPO) method for treatment of actual fertilizer industry wastewater (FIW) by using copper-loaded Santa Barbara amorphous-15 (Cu/SBA-15) catalyst. FIW consists of toxic nitrogenous and phosphorus containing compounds that are not easily degraded by the conventional physicochemical and biological treatment methods. In the present study, Box–Behnken (BB) experimental design methodology was used for optimization of three independent parameters namely catalytic dose (m), initial pH (pH_o), and H₂O₂ concentration. Maximum 83% COD removal was obtained at m = 4.5 g L⁻¹, pH_o = 9.2 and H₂O₂ concentration = 2.0 mL L⁻¹. Wastewater and catalyst recovered at optimum treatment condition were characterized by various techniques. UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used for understanding the treatment mechanism. Textural and thermogravimetric (TGA/DTA) analysis were used for determining the characteristic of catalyst before and after treatment. The stability and performance of the Cu/SBA-15 catalyst was also determined by using the reusability tests.

Keywords:

• Catalytic per-oxidation
• chemical oxygen demand
• fertilizer industry wastewater
• Cu/SBA-15
• wastewater characterization

Funding

The authors are thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST), India for providing financial help for carrying out this work under its Water Technology Initiative (WTI) program (Grant no. DST/TM/WTI/2k13/127).