Synthesis of Bi-Zn layered double hydroxides catalyst intercalated with copper and Degradation of Phenol using H₂O₂

The degradation of phenol was carried out using Bi-Zn layered double hydroxides catalyst intercalated with copper oxide. Catalyst was prepared by simple co-precipitation reaction. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, SEM and FTIR techniques. XRD patterns of these precursors seemed crystalline, similarly to the literature reported for brucite like LDHs materials. Calcined LDH material was an efficient catalyst to oxidize phenol up to 88% at pH 6 when initial concentration was 50 mg L-1, agitation time was 300 min and catalyst dosage was 400 mg. HPLC results confirmed the phenol is converted into catechol by producing HO* free radical (in the presence of H2O2) by LDH.The efficiency of catalyst was examined by performing different experiments at same conditions with only H2O2 and partial oxidation of phenol was recorded.