Optimized wet-proofed CuO/Al2O3 catalysts for the oxidation of phenol solutions: Enhancing catalytic stability

PAOLA MASSA; FERNANDO IVORRA; PATRICIA HAURE; ROSA FENOGLIO

CATALYSIS COMMUNICATIONS

Elsevier

Año: 2009 vol. 10 p. 1706 - 1710

1566-7367

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"@MS Mincho"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"; mso-ansi-language:FR; mso-fareast-language:JA;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> An optimized wet proofed catalyst was prepared by successive immersion steps of conventional 37% CuO/γ-Al2O3 samples in a polytetrafluorethylene fibres suspension. Conventional and hydrophobic catalysts were tested for the oxidation of phenol solutions (5g/L), at 140ºC and 7 atm of oxygen pressure, in a trickle bed reactor. For the conventional catalyst, phenol conversion decreased with reaction time. However, for the wet proofed catalysts, phenol conversion levels remained almost constant with usage. The hydrophobic layer improved catalyst stability: prevented the formation of domains with cuprous species, minimized the solubilization of Cu2+ and the formation of bohmite phase during reaction.