Catalytic wet air oxidation of high-strength organic coking wastewater

Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) treatment of the high-strength organic coking wastewater over CeCu and CeMn catalysts were studied. The main factors affecting the activities of the catalysts were investigated. Experimental results showed that in the absence of rare-earth metal catalysts, CWAO process was also effective for high-strength organic coking wastewater treatment. The catalyst, prepared with the active component CuCe (2:1) and carried by γ-Al2O3/TiO2 calcined at 600 °C, has a higher activity. Up to 95.2% of the initial CODCr was removed at the reaction temperature of 180 °C and oxygen partial pressure of 1.2 MPa. The effect of the catalyst is equivalent to homogeneous catalysis improved by 60% over non-catalytic treatment. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.