Iron-Modified Illite-Chitosan Composite as an Efficient Catalyst for Environmental Pollutant Degradation

Illite, a naturally abundant clay, was modified with iron to enhance its catalytic efficiency and incorporated into a chitosan matrix to create a composite catalyst for environmental remediation. The synthesis involved impregnating illite with 10% (w/w) iron, followed by integration into a chitosan polymer using ionotropic gelation. The resulting composite was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. Characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of iron into the illite structure and its homogeneous dispersion in the chitosan matrix, yielding a porous material with a surface area of 85 m²/g.

The composite's catalytic activity was tested on the degradation of a model organic pollutant (50 mg/L concentration) under optimized conditions of pH 4.5, temperature 50°C, and a catalyst dosage of 1 g/L. The results showed an exceptional degradation rate of 98.5% within 90 minutes of reaction time. Reusability tests demonstrated that the composite retained 92% of its initial catalytic activity after five cycles, indicating excellent stability and reusability.

These findings establish the iron-modified illite-chitosan composite as a highly efficient and sustainable catalyst for environmental applications. Its high degradation efficiency, coupled with economic and environmental benefits, makes it a promising candidate for large-scale pollutant degradation and wastewater treatment processes.