Low temperature aqueous phase catalytic oxidation of phenol

Low temperature aqueous phase heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of dissolved organic compounds is a potential means for remediation of contaminated ground and surface waters, industrial effluents, and other wastewater streams. The capability for operation at substantially milder conditions of temperature and pressure, in comparison to those required for supercritical water oxidation and closely related wet air oxidation processes, is made possible through the use of an extremely active bi-metallic noble metal catalyst. Phenol degradation studies were conducted using continuous flow packed bed microreactors configured to minimize the deviation from plug flow. Reaction rate constants for the disappearance of phenol were determined using a pseudo first order plug flow kinetic model over the temperature range between 35–65°C. These data were used to derive Arrhenius activation energies and pre-exponential factors. Reactor operating conditions required for mineralization of phenol have been determined.