The use of Fe(III)-siderophore complexes in a Fenton process was investigated for degradation of
propranolol, a model pollutant. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 15 was isolated from a freshwater environment
and used for siderophore production. The main factors influencing propranolol degradation, such as
pH and the concentration of siderophore, H2O2, and O2, were examined. The degradation of propranolol
was increasing with decreasing pH from 8.0 to 3.0. The presence of oxygen accelerated the generation of
hydroxyl radicals, OH, which were verified to be mainly responsible for the degradation of propranolol.
This work suggested that Fe(III)-siderophore complexes are a good alternative for the advanced
treatment of organic pollutants at near neutral pH via the Fenton process.