Effect of Al and Ce on Zr-pillared bentonite and their performance in catalytic oxidation of phenol

Catalysts based on pillared clays with Zr and/or Al and Ce–Zr and/or Al polycations have been synthesized from a Tunisian bentonite and tested in catalytic oxidation of phenol at 298 K. The Zr-pillared clay showed higher activity than the Al-one in phenol oxidation. Mixed Zr–Al pillars lead to an enhancement of the catalytic activity due to the modification of the zirconium properties. The clays modified with Ce showed high conversions of phenol and TOC thus showing to be very selective towards the formation of CO₂ and H₂O.