Cu/UiO-66: a novel nanocatalyst obtained by a microwave-assisted protocol in DMF-free media for the efficient phenol removal via catalytic wet peroxide oxidation

LOZANO, LUIS A; DEVARD, ALEJANDRA; ULLA, MARÍA ALICIA; ZAMARO, JUAN MANUEL

Journal of environmental chemical engineering

elsevier

Año: 2020 vol. 8 p. 1 - 10

This paper analyzes the microwave-assisted synthesis of the zirconium-based metalorganic framework (MOF) UiO-66 using acetone as a solvent, in replacement ofthetraditional and toxic N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF). It also studies thesubsequentloading of this MOF with high amounts of dispersed copper species to be usedascatalyst in the advanced oxidation of phenol. To this purpose, thestructuraldevelopment of UiO-66 was monitored studying the effect of synthesis variablessuchas stirring, temperature, treatment time and volume of the mixture. In this way, ahighcrystallinity UiO-66 was obtained with high yields (88 %) at short times (6 h) andundermild conditions (80 °C) in a DMF-free media. Subsequently, by studyingtreatmentconditions, a Cu/UiO-66 catalyst supporting high loadings (10 wt. %) ofhighlydispersed copper species (Cu+/Cu2+) was obtained. This nanocatalyst, whichwasobtained following sustainability criteria, exhibited a high performance in thecatalyticwet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of phenol, quickly converting all the phenol at 70 °Cinthe first 5 min and reaching a mineralization (TOC removal) of 88 % and aH2O2consumption efficiency of 30 % at 120 min. Cu/UiO-66 represents anewnanostructured catalyst based on highly dispersed copper species to be appliedinCWPOprocesses.