Wet air oxidation of nitrobenzene enhanced by phenol

Simultaneous nitrobenzene and phenol wet air oxidation was investigated in a stainless autoclave at temperature range of 180–220 °C and 1.0 MPa oxygen partial pressure. Compared with the single oxidation of nitrobenzene under the same conditions, the presence of phenol in the reaction media greatly improved the removal efficiency of nitrobenzene. The effect of temperature on the reaction was studied. Phenol was considered as a type of initiator in the nitrobenzene oxidation.