Copper hydroxyl sulfate as a heterogeneous catalyst for the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol

Copper hydroxyl sulfates Cu-4(OH) 6SO4-A and Cu4(OH) 6SO4-B were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and applied as heterogeneous catalysts to degrade phenol wastewater in a batch reactor in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The influence of temperature, H2O2 dosage, initial pH and catalyst dosage on phenol and COD removal efficiencies was investigated to get optimum conditions and to understand the degradation process more clearly. The Cu2+ concentrations in the solutions after three hours of reaction were also measured to prove the catalysts were stable. Excellent results, phenol removal efficiency of 99% and COD removal efficiency of 97%, were achieved when treating 100 and 500 mg L-1 phenol wastewater. Even though the catalysts had low specific surface area, mesopores mainly existed to decrease diffusion control of H2O2 and organics.