Catalytic Oxidation of Methyl tert-butyl Ether with Hydrogen Peroxide from Aqueous Solutions

摘要

The evaluation of catalytic activity of some homogeneous(FeSO4,FeCl3 CuO4,MnSO4)and heterogeneous(alpha-Fe2O3,CuO or Mn2O supported on alumina)systems in the oxidation of methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE)with hydrogen peroxide from aqueous solutions was the main purpose of this work.The experiments were carried out in a thermostated batch reactor equipped with a magnetical stirrer.The experimental temperatures were 10,15 and 20°C,and the pH was varied from 2.0 to 9.0.In acid medium(pH around 3),FeSO4 and FeCl3 possess the highest activity.Among the heterogeneous systems,CuO based catalysts are the most efficient in the MTBE degradation.Irrespective to the nature of the catalyst,the identified byproducts were the tert-butyl alcohol(TBA)and acetone.The TBA does not act as an inhibitor for the catalytic oxidation process.Furthermore,the data of the oxidation of MTBA in the presence of ferrous sulfate or ferric chloride confirm a total removal of byproducts after 6-8 h(depending on the temperature and the H2O2 dose).