Author(s)

Mohammad Sadiq, Mohammad Ilyas

Department of Chemistry, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir (Lower), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
National Centre of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Catalytic oxidation/degradation of phenol with molecular oxygen in aqueous medium by Zirconia, zirconia supported metals and metal oxides at low temperature were studied in a three necked batch reactor. The catalysts prepared were characterized by modern techniques like XRD, SEM and EDX. The activities of different catalysts for the oxidation of phenol in aqueous medium were found to be in the order; Pt-Pd/ZrO₂ > Bi-Pt/ZrO₂ > Bi-Pd/ZrO₂> Pt/ZrO₂ > Pd/ZrO₂ > Cu/ZrO₂> Mn/ZrO₂ > Bi/ZrO₂. The enhanced catalytic activity of Bi-Pt/ZrO₂ is attributed to Bi which in contact with Pt particles promotes its catalytic activity. In short, catalytic oxidation was found to be an effective tool, for the removal of phenol, from industrial waste water.

Oxidation; Phenol; Bismuth; Platinum; Zirconia

M. Sadiq and M. Ilyas, "Exploring the Catalytic Activity of Zirconia, Zirconia Supported Metals and Metal Oxides for Oxidation of Phenol," Modern Research in Catalysis, Vol. 1 No. 2, 2012, pp. 23-27. doi: 10.4236/mrc.2012.12004.