Effect of carbon support on CuO/AC(F) catalyst-sorbents used for catalytic dry oxidation of phenol

Four activated carbons (fibers) were chosen to prepare dual functional materials, CuO/AC(F) ca￣talyst-sorbents. They were tested in order to investigate the effect of carbon supports on CuO/AC(F) catalyst-sorbents used for catalytic dry oxidation of phenol. A TG-MS instrument was used to study the phenol oxidation activity of CuO/AC(F) catalyst-sorbents and the ignition activities of the catalyst-sorbents themselves. The properties of the carbon supports and CuO/AC(F) catalyst-sorbents were characterized by BET and XRD. Results indicate that the ash from the carbon supports affects, and mesopores promote, the phenol oxidation activities of CuO/AC(F) catalyst-sorbents. Surface oxygen functional groups on carbon supports have no significant effect on the phenol oxidation activities of the-sorbents, but they and impurities from the carbon supports promote the ignition activities of CuO/AC(F) catalyst-sorbents themselves. Phenol oxidation and catalyst-sorbent ignition may proceed bt different reaction mechanisms.