Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol over mixed [Al-Cu]-pillared clays

Various processes can be used for the treatment of wastewater, but the one we feel to be important and more promising is the wet peroxide oxidation (W PO), in the presence of a solid catalyst, at atmospheric pressure and at ro om temperature. Different types of materials can be used as catalysts for s uch reactions, but as shown in previous studies dealing with phenol oxidati on clays-based catalysts seem to be attractive. It is well known that natur al clays are inactive in the phenol oxidation, but the intercalation of pol ymeric species changes their properties. When the clay is pillared with pur e aluminum oxyhydroxides species, the d(001) spacing and the surface area i ncrease, but the activity is very low. When the clay is pillared with mixed [Al-Cu] there is a strong increase of the phenol conversion. Nevertheless W (Wyoming) based solids are more active than H (Haidoudi) or L (Laponite) based catalysts. The stability, the activity and the percentag e of copper depend on the preparation method.