Catalytic oxidation of nitrobenzene by copper loaded activated carbon

In the present study, catalytic wet peroxidation (CWPO) process has been applied for the degradation of nitrobenzene bearing wastewater using copper impregnated granular activated carbon with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Various catalysts were prepared by varying the Cu loading on activated carbon and these were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS). Effect of parameters such as copper loading, pH, catalyst dose, hydrogen peroxide dose and temperature were explored on nitrobenzene and total organic carbon (TOC) removal. TOC removal of 89% was achieved after 4 h treatment at optimum condition of Cu loading = 2.5 wt%, pH ≈ 3.0, catalyst dosage = 0.25 g/l, oxidant dosage = 4.5 (moles of oxidant/moles of NB) and temperature = 55 °C.