Oxidation of organic substances in aqueous solutions over Ru catalysts by oxygen

Abstract The catalytic performance of supported Ru catalysts has been studied in the reactions of wet oxidation of acetonitrile, N , N -dimethyl formamide and carbamide at T =433–533 K and P =2.0–4.6 MPa, and wet oxidation of real sewage from an alcohol plant (so-called Luther water) at T =403–473 K and P =1.5–3.6 MPa. The Luther water contained a mixture of low-boiling (C 1 –C 5 ) aldehydes and alcohols. The experiments were carried out in a perfectly mixed batch autoclave reactor. The conversion of alcohols and aldehydes contained in the Luther water and selectivity of the process towards CO 2 and water as well as the selectivity of the oxidation of acetonitrile, N , N -dimethyl formamide and carbamide towards CO 2 , N 2 and water were determined at various temperatures and reaction times. Ru (4.8 wt.%)/graphite-like carbon was effective in the oxidation of Luther water (ΔTOC=97.5% at T =423 K for 1 h), carbamide ( X CO(NH 2 ) 2 =100%, S CO(NH 2 ) 2 →CO 2 =100%, S CO(NH 2 ) 2 →N 2 =71% at 473 K, 2 h) and acetonitrile ( X CH 3 CN =100%, S CH 3 CN→CO 2 =100%, S CH 3 CN→N 2 =75% at 493 K, 1 h). Ru/active carbon/γ-Al 2 O 3 was effective in the oxidation of N , N -dimethyl formamide ( X HCON(CH 3 ) 2 =100%, S HCON(CH 3 ) 2 →CO 2 =61%, S HCON(CH 3 ) 2 →N 2 =100% at 493 K).