Effects of Iron-Bearing Clay Minerals on the Degradation of Diethyl Phthalate By Phenols.

Polyphenols are a group of compounds with hydroxyl groups attached to a benzene ring, which are active in the degradations of pollutants. In this study, 7 polyphenols were selected to activate H₂O₂ to degrade diethyl phthalate (DEP). The presence of Fe-bearing clay minerals can dramatically accelerate DEP degradation by e transfer between adsorbed polyphenols and structure Fe(III) in clay minerals, which can further produce hydroxyl radical. The degradation rates of DEP in the presence of clay minerals were closely related with polyphenol structures, structure Fe(III) locations and total contents of Fe(III) in clay minerals. The degradation of DEP was faster with smaller size particles of clay minerals than bigger particles, because the finer particles have more surface area and edges, and more structure Fe(III) exposed to solution. The results of this study indicates the interactions of polyphenols and iron-bearing clay minerals are important in the degradations of organic pollutants in natural environments.