Catalytic activity of HKUST-1 coated on ceramic foam

The in situ preparation of a Cu-bearing metal-organic framework material, HKUST-1, coated on an open-cell ceramic foam (CF) is presented. The material used as coating is a robust metal-organic framework with a micro-porous structure that is a reminiscent of the zeolite framework topology. In spite of relatively low thermal stability of HKUST-1 with respect to zeolites, this material has an interesting catalytic behavior in the formation of hydroxyl radicals. The synthesized HKUST-1 coated on CF (HKUST-1/CF) samples has been characterized and then used to carry out the preliminary hydroxyl radicals formation from hydrogen peroxide (HP) decomposition and the consecutive phenol oxidation tests. The maximum phenol abatement obtained is 95% after about 40 min, using a solution with an HP conversion of 70%. The HP kinetic data analysis has been done varying the reaction temperature in the range 60–80 °C. The hierarchical micro/macro-porous catalytic system has been used for more than 40 consecutive reaction runs, maintaining the catalytic activity and showing a negligible copper leaching.

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► We use HKUST-1 deposited on ceramic foam support as catalyst precursor in a tubular reactor.
► Catalyst for the generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide.
► Solutions with HO used for the phenol abatement.
► HKUST-1/CF catalyst activates hydrogen peroxide at 70 °C up to 70%.
► Phenol abatement at 95% and re-use of the catalyst for more than 40 consecutive reaction runs.