Structural Variations in SBA-15 by Copper Incorporation and a Test in Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Phenol

Abstract

This study presents the phenol removal in the wastewater via catalytic wet peroxide oxidationover Cu-SBA-15 catalyst. The hydrothermally synthesized copper catalyst was characterizedusing XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and FTIR analysis techniques. The multiple BETsurface area, total pore volume and mesopore diameter values were determined as 996 m2/g, 1.55cm3/g and 6.82 nm, respectively. XRD pattern showed that the copper loading did not demolishthe characteristic structure of SBA-15. FTIR spectrum of SBA-15 and catalyst without and withpyridine sorption showed the enhancement both in Lewis and Brønsted acidities by copperincorporation to the structure. The wet hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation of phenol performedin a batch reactor at 25, 40 and 60 oC temperatures provided 56% phenol conversion at 60 oC.