Carbon bead-supported copper-dispersed carbon nanofibers: An efficient catalyst for wet air oxidation of industrial wastewater in a recycle flow reactor

Copper nanoparticle-doped and graphitic carbon nanofibers-covered porous carbon beads were used as an efficient catalyst for treating synthetic phenolic water by catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) in a packed bed reactor over 10-30 bar and 180-230 degrees C, with air and water flowing co-currently. A mathematical model based on reaction kinetics assuming degradation in both heterogeneous and homogeneous phases was developed to predict reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) under a continuous operation with recycle. The catalyst and process also showed complete COD reduction (>99%) without leaching of Cu against a high COD (similar to 120,000 mg/L) containing industrial wastewater. (C) 2018 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.