The degradation of phenolvia in situH2O2production over supported Pd-based catalysts

Abstract

The oxidative degradation of phenolviathein situproduction of H2O2from molecular H2and O2offers an attractive route to the destruction of organic contaminants in water streams, potentially overcoming the significant economic and environmental concerns associated with traditional water remediation technologies. Herein we demonstrate the efficacy of a series of bifunctional Pd-based catalysts, which offer appreciable rates of phenol degradation. In particular, the introduction of Fe into a supported Pd catalyst leads to a near four-fold increase in pollutant remediation. We ascribe this improvement in catalytic performance to the ability of Fe to catalyse the formation of oxygen-based radical species fromin situsynthesised H2O2viaFenton's pathways and the promotion of Pd domains of mixed oxidation state, with a resulting inhibition of H2O2degradation pathways.