Optimization of reaction parameters and kinetic modeling of catalytic wet peroxidation of picoline by Cu/SBA-15

In this study, various copper loaded SBA-15 catalysts were synthesized by an impregnation method and characterized by UV-visible DRS, NH-TPD and TGA. The synthesized catalysts were used for the catalytic wet peroxidation (CWPO) of 2-picoline in aqueous solution using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Copper loading on SBA-15 enhanced the surface acidity by the generation of Lewis acid sites. Effects of various operating parameters such as initial pH, catalyst dosage, hydrogen peroxide dosage, initial 2-picoline concentration, and temperature have been investigated. At the optimum conditions of pH = 6, catalyst dosage = 0.5 g/L, stoichiometric ratio of HO /picoline = 1.3 (i.e., molar ratio of HO /picoline = 20.15) and temperature = 338 K, more than 99% 2-picoline removal efficiency was observed for a solution containing 100 mg/L of 2-picoline by 5%Cu loaded SBA-15. Furthermore, the CWPO process was well-described by a two-step pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The power law model well described the dependence of rate constant on catalyst dosage. © 2013 American Chemical Society.