Phenol CWPO over Cu and CuFe-based structured catalysts

BRUSSINO, P.; ULLA, M.A.; BANÚS, E.D.

Workshop; French-Argentinean Workshop on Heterogeneous Catalysis; 2023

Phenol and its derivates are present in several industries effluents. These compounds arehighly toxic and not biodegradable [1]. Its degradation to carbon dioxide and water, via theCatalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation (CWPO) is an interesting alternative to eliminate them fromthese effluents since low temperatures and atmospheric pressure can be applied by using anadequate catalyst. Copper and iron-based catalysts are amongst the most studied catalysts forthis reaction due to their good catalytic performance. Nevertheless, Cu and Fe leaching to thereaction media generated by the drop of pH is still an issue to be solved [2]. Structured catalystshave advantages over powder ones, associated to the versatility in their design and, inliquid-phase reactions related to the simplicity of the catalyst removal from the reaction media.In a previous work of our group we found that the iron from wire-meshes used as substratesprevented Cu leaching [3]. Considering these aspects, the objective of this work is to analyzethe effect of Fe as a co-active phase in Cu-based catalysts supported on alumina and notsupported using a substrate that is not composed by iron: cordierite monoliths.