Cu-based perovskite as a novel CWPO catalyst for petroleum refining wastewater treatment: Performance, toxicity and...

For the first time, Cu-based perovskite oxides were used as catalysts to treat highly toxic and refractory petroleum refining wastewater based on catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) technology. Perovskite La₂CuO₄ was synthesized by sol-gel method. A series of characterizations showed that the synthesized catalyst particles are tetragonal phase perovskite structure. The experimental results showed that under the conditions of catalyst dosage of 0.75 g, temperature of 100 ℃ and reaction time of 30 min, the COD removal rate was 89.58 %, the TOC removal rate was 87.38 %. The morphology and structure of the catalyst before and after the reaction proved that the catalyst has strong stability and catalytic activity. The components of raw water, Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) effluent and CWPO effluent were compared and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and the possible mechanism and path of WAO and CWPO degradation of petroleum refining wastewater were further explored. The changes of Cu components in La₂CuO₄ before and after CWPO reaction and the transformation of lattice oxygen and adsorbed oxygen were analyzed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The involvement of Cu (Ⅱ) /Cu (Ⅰ) in the activation of H₂O₂ was speculated. Finally, the biotoxicity of raw water, WAO effluent and CWPO effluent was predicted. The results provide reference value for the application of catalyst La₂CuO₄ in various petrochemical wastewater.