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

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

Benalmádena

Simposio; XXI Simposio Iberoamericano de Catálisis SICAT 08; 2008

The catalytic oxidation of phenol solutions using H2O2 as oxidizing agent and a home-made CuO/Al2O3 catalyst was studied in a laboratory batch reactor. Experiments were performed at temperatures between 20 and 70ºC; pH, phenol and H2O2 concentration were measured as a function of time. Phenol conversion and hydrogen peroxide decomposition increased with increasing temperatures. Complete phenol conversion was achieved at temperatures above 50ºC. Stability studies showed that catalyst remains moderately active after 26 h of usage at room temperature. Deactivation was mainly attributed to the leaching of the CuO active phase.