Catalytic wet oxidations of aromatic compounds over supported copper oxides

Catalytic wet oxidations of naphthalene as a model compound of persistent aromatic compounds were carried out with hydrogen peroxide in a closed autoclave lined with Teflon. CuO/Al 2 O 3 and CuO/AC catalyst showed the high activity for the naphthalene oxidation with hydrogen peroxide of 1.0 mol L −1 at 100 °C. Naphthalene, whose initial concentration was 1.0 g L −1 , was converted completely and the concentration of water-soluble organic compounds in the resultant aqueous solution was less than 25 ppm-C. In contrast, platinum, and manganese oxide, silver oxide, and ruthenium oxide catalysts consumed hydrogen peroxide preferentially. Iron and nickel oxides catalysts showed lower activity than the copper oxide catalyst. During the reaction, the intermediate organic acids were formed and then were oxidized. Simultaneously, copper species of CuO catalysts were dissolved and then were precipitated. The precipitated copper species on the catalyst support showed the catalytic activity. CuO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts showed high activity for the six successive batch reactions with the treatment of sodium carbonate after the reaction to precipitate copper ions.