Structural Variations in SBA-15 by Copper Incorporation and a Test in Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Phenol

This study presents the phenol removal in the wastewater via catalytic wet peroxide oxidation over Cu-SBA-15 catalyst. The hydrothermally synthesized copper catalyst was characterized using XRD, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and FTIR analysis techniques. The multiple BET surface area, total pore volume and mesopore diameter values were determined as 996 m 2 /g, 1.55 cm 3 /g and 6.82 nm, respectively. XRD pattern showed that the copper loading did not demolish the characteristic structure of SBA-15. FTIR spectrum of SBA-15 and catalyst without and with pyridine sorption showed the enhancement both in Lewis and Bronsted acidities by copper incorporation to the structure. The wet hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation of phenol performed in a batch reactor at 25, 40 and 60 o C temperatures provided 56% phenol conversion at 60 o C.