Decolorization of the Anthraquinone Dye C. I. Reactive Blue 2 by Fenton Oxidation; Statistical Experimental Design

This work presents the results of studies on the decolorization of water solution of anthraquinone dye C. I. Reactive Blue 2 (RB2), which was chosen as the model dye pollutant, using Fenton (Fe2+/H2O2) process. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of operational parameters which affect the efficiency of Fenton process in RB2 decolorization. The final decolorization obtained with Fenton treatment at 0.0025 mol L-1 H2O2 and 0.0005 mol L-1 Fe2+ (pH = 3; room temperature, θ = 22 ± 1 °C) achieves a dye removal of 100 % for initial RB2 concentration of 100 mg L-1. Experimental data were analyzed with statistical experimental design method using Design of Experiments (DoE) software. Factorial design of experiments was employed to study the effect of three factors, time (2 and 60 min), Fe2+ concentration (0.00005 and 0.0005 mol L-1) and H2O2 concentration (0.0003 and 0.0025 mol L-1) at two levels; low and high. It was found that all three process parameters and their interaction affect the percentage of dye removal.