CuO/Al2O3 catalyst systems for the catalytic oxidation of phenol with hydrogen peroxide

PAOLA MASSA; NATALIA INCHAURRONDO; JORGE CECHINI; ROSA FENOGLIO; PATRICIA HAURE

Málaga-Benalmádena-Costa. España

Simposio; XXI Simposio Iberoamericano de Catálisis SICAT 08; 2008

The catalytic oxidation of phenol solutions using H2O2 as oxidizing agent and a home-madeCuO/Al2O3 catalyst was studied in a laboratory batch reactor. Experiments were performed attemperatures between 20 and 70ºC; pH, phenol and H2O2 concentration were measured as afunction of time. Phenol conversion and hydrogen peroxide decomposition increased withincreasing temperatures. Complete phenol conversion was achieved at temperatures above50ºC. Stability studies showed that catalyst remains moderately active after 26 h of usage atroom temperature. Deactivation was mainly attributed to the leaching of the CuO active phase.