Utilization of Natural Zeolite Impregnated with Fe for Decolorization of Methylene Blue

Wastewater containing methylene blue, discharged into rivers, significantly impacts water quality due to its resistance to natural degradation. This study investigated the treatment of methylene blue using the photo-Fenton method, employing UV light to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH) through the reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Fe catalyst. Natural zeolite was used as a support material, activated with NaOH solution, and impregnated with FeSO₄·7H₂O. Semi-quantitative EDS analysis indicated an iron content of 6.2 wt%. The XRD result shows that the crystalline iron phase was hematite. The photo-Fenton experiments were performed at a catalyst dosage of 0.1 g/L to degrade methylene blue with an initial concentration of 20 mg/L by varying pH levels (3, 5, 7) and H₂O₂ concentrations (15, 30, 45 mM). The optimal conditions were found to be a combination of 45 mM H₂O₂ concentration, pH 3, and under 365 nm UV lamp irradiation, achieving a maximum decolorization efficiency of 99.77% at 120 minutes. H₂O₂ concentration did not significantly affect final decolorization percentage, indicating that excess H₂O₂ does not enhance degradation beyond a certain threshold. The lowest final methylene blue concentration achieved was 0.05 mg/L, and the final chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced to 243.6 mg/L.