Influence of preoxidizing treatments on the preparation of iron‐containing activated carbons for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol

BACKGROUND: Iron species were heterogeneously supported over activated carbons (AC) after different oxidizing pre‐treatments. The influence of the oxidizing method on the iron yield and the physicochemical properties of the iron‐containing activated carbons (Fe/AC) were studied. Thereafter, the activity and stability of Fe/AC catalysts for the wet peroxide oxidation of phenol as model pollutant was evaluated. RESULTS: The pre‐oxidizing treatment with HNO₃ was the most appropriate for iron incorporation, providing a Fe/AC catalyst with the highest TOC removal and oxidant efficiency. A high stability of the catalysts was observed with low values of iron leaching (below 1.5% of their initial iron contents). The best Fe/AC catalyst was studied at different reaction temperatures and initial phenol concentrations. CONCLUSION: The promising results for the Fe/AC catalyst using HNO₃ pre‐oxidizing treatment lay in the remarkable adsorption capacity of the carbon matrix and the potential activity of the iron species as Fenton‐like catalyst for the generation of oxidizing hydroxyl radicals. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry