Hierarchical Fe-ZSM-5/SiC foam catalyst as the foam bed catalytic reactor (FBCR) for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO)

Structured Fe-ZSM-5 zeolite supported on silicon carbide (SiC) foam catalyst was develop and applied as the packed foam bed catalytic reactor (FBCR) to the liquid phase catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of phenol under flow conditions. Fe catalysts were uniformly incorporated into ZSM-5 coatings using chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Fluid flow analysis of FBCR was performed by varying liquid flow rate, showing the transition of reactor type from the plug flow reactor to the continuous stirred tank reactor at about 1 ml min⁻¹. Systematic investigation of CWPO within Fe-ZSM-5/SiC FBCRs identified the optimum condition of operating the FBCR (80 mm bed length) as at 60 °C and 1 ml min⁻¹ with the turnover frequency (TOF) of 95 h⁻¹ for phenol degradation (apparent activation energy = 3.4 kJ mol⁻¹) and total organic carbon (TOC) conversion of 45.5%. It was believed that the enhanced macromixing promoted by cellular foam supports was accountable for the observed catalytic performance. The longevity of FBCR under flow conditions was also assessed, showing its good stability over 24 h, as well as the potential for practical adoption.