Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol solution over Fe–Mn binary oxides diatomite composite

Mn–Fe binary oxides incorporated into diatomite (denoted as FM-diatomite) was prepared by the redox reaction of KMnO4 and FeSO4 with pH ranging from 3 to 9. The catalytic activities of FM-diatomite were studied for phenol oxidation and were compared with iron oxide modified diatomite (F-diatomite) and manganese oxide modified diatomite (M-diatomite). The obtained catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscope, powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The results show that Fe–Mn binary oxides were highly dispersed on the diatomite surface in which manganese oxide and iron oxide displayed multiple oxidation states including Mn4+, Mn3+, Fe2+ and Fe3+. The phenol oxidation by H2O2 through the use of Mn–Fe-diatomite as a catalyst was conducted. FM-diatomite exhibited as an excellent catalyst for the total oxidation of phenol and main intermediates (catechol and hydroquinone). The conversion of phenol and main intermediates by means of FM-diatomite was 100 % under 50 min while that by F-diatomite also was 100 % after 110 min but other intermediates still remained. While phenol conversion by M-diatomite was close to zero due to speedy hydroperoxide decomposition over the manganese oxide catalyst. These results show that there was a synergized effect of iron and manganese oxide present in FM-diatomite.