Insight into fast catalytic degradation of neutral reactive red 195 solution by FePC glassy alloy: Fe release and OH generation

• AS ribbon has a higher η on RR195 solution than AN722, AN782 ribbons and Fe powder. • AS ribbon has more Fe-P/Fe-C galvanic cells, quicker Fe 0 release and OH generation. • AS ribbon has a stronger hydrophilicity and self-renewing behavior in cyclic tests. • Toxicity of degraded RR195 solution decreased and being suitable for soybean planting. • C t / C 0 - t curve types are associated with slow, middle and rapid OH generation rates. Fe 75 P 15 C 10 amorphous (AS) ribbon, participating in photo-enhanced Fenton-like reaction under near neutral condition, is proved to show a fast catalytic degradation performance in reactive red 195 (RR195) solution, a common dye wastewater. Compared to Fe 75 P 15 C 10 semi-amorphous (AN722) ribbon, Fe 75 P 15 C 10 crystalline (AN782) ribbon and industrial Fe powder, AS ribbon has a higher apparent degradation efficiency and a higher TOC removal rate, which comes from the more Fe-P/Fe-C galvanic cells, easier Fe 0 release, quicker OH generation, and stronger hydrophilicity; in cyclic tests, AS ribbon’s surface has undergone the evolution of smooth and flat, concave and convex mountain range structure, cotton-lamellar structure, showing a larger specific surface area, a longer service life and a higher self-renewing behavior. The toxicity of degraded and mineralized RR195 solution by AS ribbon decreased significantly, being suitable for soybean planting like deionized water. According to the UV–Vis adsorption spectra and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) results, the linear, convex and concave C t / C 0 - t curves are associated with slow, middle and rapid OH generation rates in photo-enhanced Fenton-like reaction. These results show that AS ribbon is a promising catalyst for catalytic degradation of dye wastewater under near neutral condition.