Catalytic wet air oxidation of aromatic compounds: degradation in molybdovanadophosphoric polyoxometalates micellar system under room temperature conditions

Catalytic wet air oxidation process, enable to eliminate organic pollutants with non toxic by-product formation, was investigated in micellar system under room condition. Degradation of a series of aromatic compounds, including aromatic hydrocarbons, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, and some N-containing compounds was carried out based on molybdovanadophosphoric polyoxometalates (C₁₆H₃₃)N(CH₃)₃]_3+x PV _x Mo_12?x O₄₀ (x = 1, 2, 3) catalysts and surfactants. Outstanding results (60–96 % degradation efficiencies) were achieved for most of the tested substrates. And the POM micellar catalysts have an excellent stability and can be used as heterogeneous catalysts for about six times.