Fabricating FeO-schwertmannite as a Z-scheme photocatalyst with excellent photocatalysis-Fenton reaction and recyclability.

Here we reported an effective method to solve the rate-limiting steps, such as the reduction of Fe to Fe and an invalid decomposition of HO in a conventional Fenton-like reaction. A magnetic heterogeneous photocatalyst, FeO-schwertmannite (FeO-sch) was successfully developed by adding FeO in the formation process of schwertmannite. FeO-sch shows excellent electrons transfer ability and high utilization efficiency of HO (98.5%). The catalytic activity of FeO-sch was studied through the degradation of phenol in the heterogeneous photo-Fenton process. Phenol degradation at a wide pH (3 - 9) was up to 98% within 6 min under visible light illumination with the FeO-sch as heterogeneous Fenton catalyst, which was higher than that using pure schwertmannite or FeO. The excellent photocatalytic performance of FeO-sch is ascribed to the effective recycling between Fe and Fe by the photo-generated electron, and also profit from the formation of the "Z-Scheme" system. According to the relevant data, photocatalytic mechanism of FeO-sch for degrading phenol was proposed. This study not only provides an efficient way of enhancing heterogeneous Fenton reaction, but also gives potential application for iron oxyhydroxysulfate mineral.