Magnetic catalysts based on electric arc furnace dust used to remove pollutants

New materials based on electric arc furnace (EAF) dust have been produced via temperature-programmed reduction using hydrogen gas at different temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Mossbauer spectroscopy suggested that the EAF dust is reduced by hydrogen at 600 and 700 °C producing reduced iron, e.g., iron (II) and iron metallic, magnetics and more active catalytic phases. The new materials show magnetic behavior as well as EAF starting material. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies using N-t-butyl-α-phenylnitrone as a trapped radical agent were performed showing characteristic signals related to paramagnetic species produced exclusively by the interaction of catalysts with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The new magnetic materials were successfully used for pollutant removal by adsorption followed by oxidation of model dyes such as methylene blue and indigo carmine. In addition, the great advantage of these materials is that they may be easily recovered magnetically and reused.