Improvement of the activity of a new nano magnetic titanium catalyst by using alkaline for refinery wastewater oxidation treatment in a batch baffled reactor

Abstract

In order to reach pure water, it is essential to develop new technology for eliminating phenol from the wastewater. In this work, a nano-composite catalyst (5 % Fe2O3 + 10 % alkaline/TiO2) has been prepared and its performance to enhance the activity of catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) process for removal of phenol has been examined. The new nano-composite catalyst is tested by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM). A baffled batch reactor is used to evaluate the activity of new nano-composite catalyst at various temperatures (30–80 °C) and reaction times (30–90 min), utilizing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidizing agent. The new design of digital baffled batch reactor prevents the fuel swirling, thus improving agitation. The experimental data of the CWPO technology prove that the best phenol removal (95.931 %) was carried out at 80 °C, the reaction time of 90 min, and in the presence of nano-composite catalyst ((5 % Fe2O3 + 10 % alkaline)/TiO2). Modeling investigation for the CWPO is examined in order to estimate the better process kinetic. The simulation technique explains dramatic agreement in comparing with the experimental data (error < 5 %). The optimal CWPO conditions in order to achieve pure water (phenol removal >99 %) are at reaction time of 198 min, process temperature of 85 °C, and initial phenol concentration of 1000 ppm.