Supercritical water oxidation of 2-chlorophenol effected by Li+ and CuO/zeolites

Catalytic oxidation of 2-chlorophenol (2CP) in supercritical water was investigated. Experimentally, conversion of 2CP in supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) process is effectively enhanced in the presence of Li+ that also reduces the formation of higher chlorinated phenols and PAHs. The global reaction rate of SCWO of 2CP in the presence of Li+ is expressed as: 92.5 exp (−10.5/RT) [2CP]0.95 [O2]0.56 [H2O]0.45. The undesired by-products in the SCWO of 2CP are also extensively reduced in the channels of zeolite catalysts. By EXAFS spectroscopy, Cu---O and Cu---Cu are identified as the main oxidation active species in the zeolite channels. Cl-bonded CuO species in zeolite Y are not observed.