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

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

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Elsevier

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020 vol. 8 p. 1 - 10

2213-3437

This paper analyzes the microwave-assisted synthesis of the zirconium-based metalorganicframework (MOF) UiO-66 using acetone as a solvent, in replacement of thetraditional and toxic N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF). It also studies the subsequentloading of this MOF with high amounts of dispersed copper species to be used ascatalyst in the advanced oxidation of phenol. To this purpose, the structuraldevelopment of UiO-66 was monitored studying the effect of synthesis variables suchas stirring, temperature, treatment time and volume of the mixture. In this way, a highcrystallinityUiO-66 was obtained with high yields (88 %) at short times (6 h) and undermild conditions (80 °C) in a DMF-free media. Subsequently, by studying treatmentconditions, a Cu/UiO-66 catalyst supporting high loadings (10 wt. %) of highlydispersed copper species (Cu+/Cu2+ ) was obtained. This nanocatalyst, which wasobtained following sustainability criteria, exhibited a high performance in the catalyticwet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of phenol, quickly converting all the phenol at 70 °C inthe first 5 min and reaching a mineralization (TOC removal) of 88 % and a H2O2consumption efficiency of 30 % at 120 min. Cu/UiO-66 represents a newnanostructured catalyst based on highly dispersed copper species to be applied inCWPO processes.