Abstract: Fe-pillared bentonite catalyst was prepared under microwave irradiation using calcium base bentonite as the precursor, and characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the iron was pillared at the layer of bentonite well. The effects of preparation condition including reaction time, dosage of catalyst on the degradation of methyl orange were investigated. It was found that the degradation rate of the 100 mg/L methyl orange at pH=3.0 could reach 98.1% after 60 min reaction using 1.5 g/L Fepillared bentonite as the catalyst, which was prepared under 500 W microwave radiation keeping the reaction temperature at 80 ℃ for 10 min, and 7.345×10-3 mol/L H2O2 as oxidant.

Key words: microwave, Fe-pillared bentonite, photocatalytic degradation, methyl orange