Fe Supported Catalysts Prepared by The Sol-Gel Method. Characterization and Evaluation in Phenol Abatement

Iron supported catalysts containing 10 wt% of iron, as oxide, on TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ have been prepared by the sol gel method and the traditional method based of the impregnation of the support with the metal precursor on commercial and sol-gel supports. The samples were characterised by measuring the specific area (S _BET), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrophoretic migration (IP), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The catalytic activity was measured in a batch reactor using ozone as oxidizing agent. It was found presence of highly dispersed iron oxide in the samples prepared by cogelation, whereas in those prepared by impregnation of the iron precursor, the dispersion was very poor. Catalytic activity indicates that phenol is degraded with a low mineralization to CO_2.