Platinum catalyzed wet oxidation of phenol in a stirred slurry reactor : a practical operation window

The catalytic performance of graphite supported Pt (5 wt.%) catalyst in liq. phase oxidn. was studied using a continuous flow stirred tank slurry reactor (CSTR) in order to det. the proper operation window. The study was carried out at 120-180 Deg and a total pressure of 1.5-2.0 MPa. Other operational variables were O partial pressure (0.01-0.8 MPa), initial phenol feed concn. (0.005-0.07M), and catalyst concn. 1-10 Kg/m3. It was found that the extent of O coverage on the Pt surface dets. the reaction pathway and selectivity to CO2 and H2O. Complete oxidn. of phenol to CO2 and H2O could be achieved at 150 Deg when the reaction proceeds within the range of wt. specific O loads of 0.15-0.35 mol/KgPt-s and at stoichiometric O excess 0-80%. The activity of the Pt catalyst remained high when the residual partial pressure of O in the reactor was kep