Bimetallic M–Cu (M = Ag, Au, Ni) Nanoparticles Supported on γAl2O3-CeO2 Synthesized by a Redox Method Applied in Wet Oxidation of Phenol in Aqueous Solution and Petroleum Refinery Wastewater

Abstract

Three bimetallic catalysts of the type M–Cu with M = Ag, Au and Ni supports were successfully prepared by a two-step synthesized method using Cu/Al2O3-CeO2 as the base monometallic catalyst. The nanocatalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction of H2 (H2-TPR), N2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy with diffuse reflectance (DR-UV-Vis) techniques. This synthesized methodology allowed a close interaction between two metals on the support surface; therefore, it could have synthesized an efficient transition–noble mixture bimetallic nanostructure. Alloy formation through bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) of AgCuAlCe and AuCuAlCe was demonstrated by DR–UV–Vis, EDS, TEM and H2-TPR. Furthermore, in the case of AgCuAlCe and AuCuAlCe, improvements were observed in their reducibility, in contrast to NiCuAlCe. The addition of a noble metal over the monometallic copper-based catalyst drastically improved the phenol mineralization. The higher activity and selectivity to CO2 of the bimetallic gold–copper- and silver–copper-supported catalysts can be attributed to the alloy compound formation and the synergetic effect of the M–Cu interaction. Petroleum Refinery Wastewater (PRW) had a complex composition that affected the applied single CWAO treatment, rendering it inefficient.