Artificial Neural Networks, Optimization and Kinetic Modeling of Amoxicillin Degradation in Photo-Fenton Process Using Aluminum Pillared Montmorillonite-Supported Ferrioxalate Catalyst

An artificial neural network (ANN) was applied to study the hierarchy of significance of process variables affecting the degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) in a heterogeneous photo-Fenton process. Catalyst and H₂O₂ dosages were found to be the most significant variables followed by degradation time and concentration of AMX. The significant variables were optimized and the optimum condition to achieve degradation of 97.87% of 40 ppm AMX was 21.54% excess H₂O₂ dosage, 2.24 g of catalyst in 10 min. A mathematical model (MM) for the degradation of AMX was developed on the basis of the combined results of the ANN and the optimization studies. The MM result showed that increases in both catalyst and H₂O₂ dosage enhanced the rate of AMX degradation as shown by the rate constants evaluated from the model. The highest rate constant at the optimum conditions was 122 M^–1 S^–1. These results provided invaluable insights into the catalytic degradation of AMX in photo-Fenton process

Preparation and Characterization of Zeolite Supported Fluoropalladium Oxalate Catalyst for Hydrodeoxygenation of Oleic Acid into Paraffinic Fuel

Oleic acid (OA) was hydrodeoxygenated in this study using zeolite-supported fluoropalladium oxalate (FPdOx/Zeol) catalyst. The FPdOx/Zeol was prepared via a pH controlled simple dissolution method and characterized with thermal gravimetric analysis, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller techniques. The results showed that the deposited Pd particle was highly dispersed on the zeolite (Zeol) because of the presence of oxalate ligands and proper calcination. This observation was corroborated by the transformation of the Zeol support from crystalline into amorphous in FPdOx/Zeol as seen in the XRD and scanning electron microscopy results. The best experimental condition for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of 3.5 g of OA was 370 °C, 20 mg of FPdOx/Zeol, and 100 mL/min of reducing gas (5% H₂/N₂) flow rate. The FTIR spectra of the evolved products at these conditions showed that the HDO of OA proceeded via the formation of stearic acid as intermediate product. A mixture of highly purified paraffinic fuel (iso-octadecane, ∼18%, and <i>n</i>-ocatadecane, ∼69%) was obtained after 44 min of HDO. The production of iso-octadecane which is an excellent fuel additive because of its antifreezing quality was due to the presence of fluoride ion in the FPdOx/Zeol. The FPdOx/Zeol demonstrated excellent qualities, and the results are promising toward further research and industrialization