Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation: A route towards the application of hybrid magnetic carbon nanocomposites for the degradation of organic pollutants. A review
Several motivations have prompted the scientific community towards the application of hybrid magnetic
carbon nanocomposites in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) processes. The most relevant literature
on this topic is reviewed, with a special focus on the synergies that can arise from the combination
of highly active and magnetically separable iron species with the easily tuned properties of carbon-based
materials. These are mainly ascribed to increased adsorptive interactions, to good structural stability and
low leaching levels of the metal species, and to increased regeneration and dispersion of the active sites,
which are promoted by the presence of the carbon-based materials in the composites.
The most significant features of carbon materials that may be further explored in the design of improved
hybrid magnetic catalysts are also addressed, taking into consideration the experimental knowledge
gathered by the authors in their studies and development of carbon-based catalysts for CWPO. The
presence of stable metal impurities, basic active sites and sulphur-containing functionalities, as well
as high specific surface area, adequate porous texture, adsorptive interactions and structural defects, are
shown to increase the activity of carbon materials when applied in CWPO, while the presence of acidic
oxygen-containing functionalities has the opposite effect.
