Catalytic Wet Oxidation of Phenol with Hydrogen Peroxide over Modified Clay Minerals

Phenol oxidation was investigated through Fenton-like reaction, using iron-pillared clay minerals. The influence of the specific surface area was examined using three commercial clay materials: sodium-bentonite (37.5 m(2)/g), KSF montmorillonite (106 m(2)/g) and K10 montmorillonite (240 m(2)/g). Experimental results show that chemically modified clays, bentonite type, presented a higher catalytic activity in Fenton like processes than chemically modified clays type KSF and K10 montmorillonite. By testing the derived catalyst from sodium bentonite, a 100 % phenol conversion was obtained after 50 minutes. The other two catalysts derived from KSF and K10 montmorillonite led to a 98 % respectively 28 % phenol conversions.