Catalytic performance of heteroatom-modified carbon nanotubes in advanced oxidation processes

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

João Restivo (Author) Other; Raquel P. Rocha (Author) FEUP; Adrián M. T. Silva (Author) FEUP; José J. M. Orfão (Author) FEUP; Manuel F. R. Pereira (Author) FEUP; José L. Figueiredo (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chinese Journal of Catalysis

Vol. 35 No. 6

Pages: 896-905

ISSN: 0253-9837

Publisher: Science Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 41 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 40 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering

Associated Projects

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-JMP

DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2067(14)60103-0

Abstract (EN): Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were submitted to chemical and thermal treatments in order to incorporate different heteroatoms on the surface. O-, S- and N-containing groups were successfully introduced onto the CNTs without significant changes of the textural properties. The catalytic activity of these heteroatom-modified CNTs was studied in two liquid phase oxidation processes: catalytic ozonation and catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO), using oxalic acid and phenol as model compounds. In both cases, the presence of strongly acidic O-containing groups was found to decrease the catalytic activity of the CNTs. On the other hand, the introduction of S species (mainly sulfonic acids) enhanced the removal rate of the model compounds, particularly in the CWAO of phenol. Additional experiments were performed with a radical scavenger and sodium persulfate, in order to clarify the reaction mechanism. Nitrogen functionalities improve the catalytic performance of the original CNTs, regardless of the process or of the pollutant.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10