Sewage sludge based catalysts for catalytic wet air oxidation of phenol: Preparation, characterisation and catalytic performance

▶ Sewage sludge based activated carbons (SBACs) were produced from two sludges. ▶ The SBACs all exhibited catalytic activity. ▶ The SBACs' significant Fe content appeared to facilitate their catalytic properties. ▶ The SBACs' performance strongly correlated with their BET surface area. ▶ The acid washed SBACs' phenol conversion values were ca. 96% of the commercial AC's.