Influence of Operational Parameters and Kinetic Modelling of Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation of Phenol by Al/Zr Pillared Clay Catalyst

Single and mixed oxide Al/Zr-pillared clay (Al/Zr-PILC) catalysts were synthesized and tested for catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of aqueous phenol solution under milder conditions, in a semi-batch reactor. The catalysts were synthesized from natural bentonite clay using ultrasonic treatment during the aging and intercalation steps and were characterized using High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive angle X-ray spectrometry (HRSEM-EDX), powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Fourier Transforms InfraRed Spectroscopy (FTIR) and zeta potential. Successful pillaring of aluminum and zirconium oxides into the clay was confirmed by p-XRD with increased basal spacing (1.92 nm) and higher specific surface area (230 m2/g). The influence of stirrer speed (200-1000 rpm), catalyst dosage (1-3 g/L), initial pH (1-3), initial phenol concentration (500-1500 mg/L), the effect of temperature (80-150 °C) and oxygen pressure (5-15 bar) was evaluated on phenol conversion and their reaction kinetics. At the optimum conditions of initial pH of 3, catalyst dosage of 2 g/L, initial phenol concentration of 1000 mg/L, reaction temperature of 100 °C, and oxygen pressure of 10 bar, the complete removal of phenol was achieved by Al/Zr-PILC within 120 min. The CWAO process was well-described by the first-order power rate law kinetics model. The apparent activation energy of the reaction calculated by Arrhenius equation was 21.306 kJ/mol.