Catalytic oxidation behavior of phenol adsorbed on Cu-Ce/AC catalyst-sorbent

Catalytic activity and deactivation of a Cu-Ce/AC (activated carbon supported copper and cerium) catalyst-sorbent for oxidation of adsorbed phenol was investigated. Results show that phenol adsorption capacity and oxidation activity of Cu-Ce/AC decrease with an increase in adsorption-oxidation cycles. Initial phenol oxidation temperature of Cu-Ce/AC increases by 25℃ in 5 cycles. The deactivation of the catalyst is attributed to the formation of organic residues from oxidative coupling of phenol, which covers the Ce and Cu sites on the surface. C—O—C and C—OH groups were observed in the residues.