Synthesis of Fe(III)-doping Morchella-like porous magnesium hydroxide for the enhanced heterogeneous Fenton degradation of amphoteric antibiotics and anionic dyes

A Morchella-like hierarchical porous Fe-doping magnesium hydroxide (Fe(III)-PMH) was synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal process using iron-bearing brucite with the modulation of recyclable L-threonate. The L-threonate facilitated formatting Morchella-like porous structure through controlling specific lattice plane of Mg(OH)2. The as-prepared Fe(III)-PMH features a high specific surface area porous structure and even distribution of steady Fe(III) active sites doped in Mg(OH)2 lattice, contributing to its degradation of amphoteric antibiotics or anionic dyes in the presence of H2O2. The surface alkalinity of Fe(III)-PMH drives the anionic conversion of amphoteric antibiotics or enhances the ionization of anionic dyes. Then these anionic contaminants are rapidly absorbed and oxidized in situ on the positively charged surface of Fe(III)-PMH. For the stable presence of superoxide radicals in Fe(III)-PMH/H2O2 system, a wide range of working pH was obtained (pH 3–11). Moreover, a negligible amount of leached iron ions, and excellent reusability make it durable and promising for industrial applications. This work provides a simple and low-cost preparation of heterogeneous catalysts with good performance, especially for the highly effective enhanced Fenton-like system in the wastewater treatment of amphoteric antibiotics and anionic dyes.