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Title: Catalytic oxidation of phenol over MnO{sub 2} in supercritical water

Journal Article · · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie990277b· OSTI ID:20000988

Bulk MnO{sub 2} was used as a catalyst for phenol oxidation in supercritical water at 380--420 C and 219--300 atm in a flow reactor. The bulk MnO{sub 2} catalyst enhances both the phenol disappearance and CO{sub 2} formation rates during supercritical water oxidation (SCWO), but it does not affect the selectivity to CO{sub 2} or to the phenol dimers at a given phenol conversion. The role of the catalyst appears to be accelerating the rate of formation of phenoxy radicals, which then react in the fluid phase by the same mechanism operative for noncatalytic SCWO of phenol. The rates of phenol disappearance and CO{sub 2} formation are sensitive to the phenol and O{sub 2} concentrations but independent of the water density. Both power-law and dual site Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) rate laws were developed to correlate the catalytic kinetics. Results show that SCWO reactor volumes can be reduced by an order of magnitude if bulk MnO{sub 2} is used as the catalyst and by yet another order of magnitude if a supported oxidation catalyst is used.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-95PC95213
OSTI ID:
20000988
Journal Information:
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 38, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1999; ISSN 0888-5885
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English