Quantitative characterization of hydroxyl radical generation in a goethite-catalyzed Fenton-like reaction

In order to find out the truth of influence of solution chemistry on the oxidation efficiency of a goethite-catalyzed Fenton-like reaction, the amount of hydroxyl radicals (OH) was quantified by using coumarin as its trapping agent to produce the only fluorescent derivative 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-HC), because OH was the reactive species responsible for the oxidation activity of Fenton reactions. The concentration of OH achieved maximum at solution pH of 3 and decreased with an increase of solution pH value. However, considerable amount of OH can also generate at near neutral pH (i.e. pH 6 and 7). The concentration of OH was increased both with increasing of goethite and H2O2 dosages, but H2O2 could compete with coumarin to scavenge OH to reduce the formation of 7-HC when the concentration of H2O2 was too high. Anions inhibited OH generation followed an order of H2PO4− > SO42− > Cl− > NO3− > ClO4−. Higher concentrations of Cl− and SO42− resulted in greater inhibition of OH generation. Results of this study demonstrated that the influence of solution chemistry on the oxidation efficiency of the goethite-catalyzed Fenton-like reaction was greatly attributed to the effect of solution chemistry on the amount of OH formed in the process of reaction.