Degradation of Toluene from Gas Streams by Heterogeneous Fenton Oxidation in a Slurry Bubble Reactor with Activated Carbon-Based Catalysts
Emanuel F. S. Sampaio,
V. Guimarães,
O. S. G. P. Soares,
M. Fernando R. Pereira,
Carmen S. D. Rodrigues,
Luis M. Madeira
Affiliations
Emanuel F. S. Sampaio
LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
V. Guimarães
LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
O. S. G. P. Soares
LSRE–LCM—Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering—Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
M. Fernando R. Pereira
LSRE–LCM—Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering—Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Carmen S. D. Rodrigues
LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Luis M. Madeira
LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
A novel approach for the treatment of volatile organic compounds from gaseous streams was developed. In order to accomplish this, a semi-batch bubble reactor was used, aiming to assess the toluene (selected as model compound) degradation from gaseous streams via heterogeneous Fenton oxidation. Activated carbon-based catalysts—metal-free or iron-impregnated—with different textural and chemical surface properties were used for the first time as catalysts, in order to degrade gaseous toluene using such technology. Complementary characterization techniques, such as nitrogen adsorption at –196 °C, elemental analysis, pH at the point of zero charge (pHPZC), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used. The materials’ chemical surface properties, particularly the presence of N-surface groups, were herein found to play an important role in toluene adsorption and catalytic performance. The maximum amount of toluene transferred, 6.39 × 10−3 mol, was achieved using melamine-doped activated carbon (N-doped material) that was impregnated with iron (sample herein called ACM-Fe). This iron-based catalyst was found to be quite stable during three reutilization cycles.
