Comparative study on the degradation of I.C. Remazol Brilliant Blue R and I.C. Acid Black 1 by Fenton oxidation and Fe0/air process and toxicity evaluation

Degradation of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (anthraquinone dye) and Acid Black 1 (azo dye) by Fenton oxidation and low-cost Fe0/air process was compared. The doses of Fenton reagent needed for decolorization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R was much higher than for Acid Black 1. The Fe0/air process rapidly decolorized dyes within 5 min at the Fe0 doses of 10 and 50 g L-1 for Remazol Brilliant Blue R and Acid Black 1, respectively. COD removals of Remazol Brilliant Blue R and Acid Black 1 by the Fe0/air treatment were significantly higher than those by Fenton oxidation. 98% COD of Remazol Brilliant Blue R was removed by the Fe0/air process. The toxicity of Fe0/air-treated solution was significantly lower than that of Fenton-treated solution; no toxicity was detected after the treatment of Remazol Brilliant Blue R by the Fe0/air process. Fe0/air technique is a potential process for dye degradation.