Particulate catalysts

• US 20030031585A1
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Nottingham
• Original Assignee: University of Nottingham
• Inventors: Puma, Gianluca Li
• Application Number:
  US10/157,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/23
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2231/70 Oxidation reactions, e.g. epoxidation, (di)hydroxylation, dehydrogenation and analogues
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/745 Iron
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/10 sulfonated
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0201 Impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/30 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/30 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/003 Wastewater from hospitals, laboratories and the like, heavily contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

The invention discloses particulate catalysts and, more specifically, particulate catalysts for use in heterogeneous photo-assisted Fenton reactions. Immobilisation of metal ions on a compatible particulate support provides an improved catalysts that avoids both the pH-dependency and the need for catalyst recovery. In particular, ferrous or ferric ions are employed.

Claims

1. A catalyst for heterogeneous photo-assisted Fenton reactions, said catalyst comprising metal ions immobilised and supported on a compatible particulate material.

2. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said metal ions are selected from the group consisting of ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions and ferric (Fe³⁺) ions.

3. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said particulate material consists essentially of beads or granules of an ion-exchanger.

4. The catalyst of claim 3, wherein said beads or granules have an average particle size of from 10⁻

9 to 10<sup>−

1</sup> metres.

5. The catalyst of claim 3, wherein said particulate material consists essentially of an ion-exchanger having a carbon-fluorine backbone chain and perfluorinated side chains, said side chains further containing sulphonic acid groups.

6. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said particulate material consists essentially of beads or granules of a material impregnated and/or coated with an ion exchanger.

7. The catalyst of claim 6, wherein said beads or granules have an average particle size of from 10⁻

9 to 10<sup>−

1</sup> metres.

8. The catalyst of claim 6, wherein said impregnating and/or coating material consists essentially of an ion-exchanger having a carbon-fluorine backbone chain and perfluorinated side chains, said side chains further containing sulphonic acid groups.

9. A method for the treatment and purification of fluids containing organic or inorganic material or pathogens said method comprising carrying out a photo-assisted Fenton reaction upon said fluid or wastewater, wherein said photo-assisted Fenton reaction is catalysed by a catalyst according to claim 1.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said photo-assisted Fenton reaction is initiated by means of a light source.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said light-source consists essentially of artificial light.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said light-source consists essentially of solar radiation.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein said catalyst consists essentially of metal ions selected from the group consisting of ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions and ferric (Fe³⁺) ions, said metal ions being immobilised and supported on beads or granules of an ion-exchanger, said ion-exchanger having a carbon-fluorine backbone chain and perfluorinated side chains said side chains further containing sulphonic acid groups.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein said catalyst consists essentially of metal ions selected from the group consisting of ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions and ferric (Fe³⁺) ions, said metal ions being immobilised and supported on beads or granules of a compatible material, said material being impregnated or coated with an ion-exchanger having a carbon-fluorine backbone chain and perfluorinated side chains, said side chains further containing sulphonic acid groups.