Efficient Degradation of Mordant Blue 9 Using the Fenton-Activated Persulfate System

In this study, a Fenton-activated persulfate (Fe2+/PS) system was introduced for the efficient degradation of Mordant Blue 9 (MB 9) as a textile dye in an aqueous solution. Results showed that the degradation of MB 9 was markedly influenced by operational parameters, such as initial pH, PS concentration, Fe2+ concentration, and initial dye concentration. Optimal reaction conditions were then determined. Inorganic anions, such as Cl and HCO3, enhanced the degradation efficiency of MB 9 under optimal conditions. Addition of HCO3 reduced the degradation performance of MB 9, whereas the addition of Cl increased the degradation percentage of MB 9. In addition, quenching experiments were conducted using methanol and tert-butyl alcohol as scavengers, and methanol was identified as an effective scavenger. Thus, the degradation of MB 9 was attributed to SO 4 and OH radicals. The degradation and mineralization efficiency of MB 9 was significantly reduced using the conventional Fenton process i.e., Fe2+/ hydrogen peroxide (HP) because of the formation of a Fe complex during degradation. Meanwhile, the Fe2+/persulfate (PS) system improved the degradation and mineralization performance.