Abstract: The catalytic oxidative degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) was studied. The results indicated that CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ exhibited high activity for the reaction. Adding alkaline-earth metal oxides into CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ improved the liberation rate of chloride ion from 2,4-DCP remarkably and SrO was the most efficient. The 2,4-DCP conversion and the liberation rate of chloride ion reached 100% when the CuO/γ-Al₂O₃-SrO catalyst was used 3 times. The results of X-ray diffraction and the temperature-programmed-desorption of ammonia indicated that the catalyst with good dispersion of CuO particles and a less amount of acid sites was favorable for the efficient oxidative degradation of 2,4-DCP. A probable pathway of the oxidative degradation for 2,4-DCP over the copper-based catalyst was suggested.

Key words: copper oxide, aluminium oxide, supported catalyst, alkaline-earth metal oxides, 2,4-dichlorophenol, oxidative degradation