Catalytic Wet Oxidation of Pharmaceutical Sludge by Molecular Sieve Loaded with Cu/Ce

Xu Zeng,Jun Liu,Jianfu Zhao

doi:10.3390/catal8020067

Abstract

In the present study, the catalytic wet oxidation of pharmaceutical sludge by molecular sieve loaded with Cu/Ce as catalyst was investigated. Experiments were performed in an experimental batch reactor. Reaction parameters including catalyst dose, temperature, time, and oxygen pressure were discussed. The results showed that the catalysts prepared by co-precipitating method have good catalytic performance. Under optimum conditions, the highest volatile suspended solids (VSS) removal rate approximately 92% and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate of 75% were obtained at 260 °C for 60 min with initial oxygen pressure 1.0 MPa and the catalyst 10 g/L. These results implied that the catalytic wet oxidation of pharmaceutical sludge by molecular sieve loaded with Cu/Ce is a promising method for the highly efficient degradation of the sludge.

Highlights

Large amounts of pharmaceutical sludge were been generated due to the fast development of pharmaceutical industry
These results implied that the catalytic wet oxidation of pharmaceutical sludge by molecular sieve loaded with Cu/Ce is a promising method for the highly efficient degradation of the sludge
The catalytic wet oxidation of pharmaceutical sludge by molecular sieve loaded with Cu/Ce was investigated

Summary

Introduction

Large amounts of pharmaceutical sludge were been generated due to the fast development of pharmaceutical industry. The treatment of pharmaceutical sludge has become a growing concern, because non-degradable organic pollutants, especially highly toxic organic pollutants and heavy metals were contained in the sludge. The effective removal of such pollutants is a challenging task. Biotechnology, adsorption, and incineration have been traditionally applied for the treatment of pharmaceutical sludge. Toxic pollutants are lethal to the microorganisms in bioprocesses. Adsorption and incineration merely transfer pollutants from a liquid to a solid or to air, leaving a contaminated adsorbent or combustion by-products for further disposal. Alternative technologies that can deal with the highly toxic and non-biodegradable pollutants are strongly desired

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Conclusion