Heteroatom (N, S) Co-Doped CNTs in the Phenol Oxidation by Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation

The N, S-co-doping of commercial carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was performed by a solvent-free mechanothermal approach using thiourea. CNTs were mixed with the N, S-dual precursor in a ball-milling apparatus, and further thermally treated under inert atmosphere between 600 and 1000 degrees C. The influence of the temperature applied during the thermal procedure was investigated. Textural properties of the materials were not significantly affected either by the mechanical step or by the heating phase. Concerning surface chemistry, the developed methodology allowed the incorporation of N (up to 1.43%) and S (up to 1.3%), distributed by pyridinic (N6), pyrrolic (N5), and quaternary N (NQ) groups, and C-S-, C-S-O, and sulphate functionalities. Catalytic activities of the N, S-doped CNTs were evaluated for the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of phenol in a batch mode. Although the samples revealed a similar catalytic activity for phenol degradation, a higher total organic carbon removal (60%) was observed using the sample thermally treated at 900 degrees C. The improved catalytic activity of this sample was attributed to the presence of N6, NQ, and thiophenic groups. This sample was further tested in the oxidation of phenol under a continuous mode, at around 30% of conversion being achieved in the steady-state.

Automated summary

The N, S-co-doping of commercial carbon nanotubes was successfully achieved using a solvent-free mechanothermal approach with thiourea as a precursor. The developed methodology allowed the incorporation of N and S into the CNTs, resulting in improved catalytic activity for the oxidation of phenol. The presence of N6, NQ, and thiophenic groups contributed to the enhanced catalytic performance observed in the study.