Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation (CWAO) has been investigated for the treatment of water contaminated by 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4HBA) and equimolar mixture of phenol-4HBA. Both batch measurements for kinetics determination and continuous
fixed bed operation have been performed on the same Activated Carbon (AC). After a fast initial deactivation AC was proved stable and efficient at moderate
temperature and oxygen pressure, like for phenol degradation.
The kinetic study in the case of highly adsorbing material as AC may require complex approach to account for the variation of adsorbed reactants during batch
oxidation. Adsorption isotherms at reaction temperature and with aged AC have been obtained according to Langmuir equation and used in 4HBA mass balance to
derive more significant kinetic parameters. At high catalyst loading and relatively low pollutant concentration, the variation of 4HBA during the batch may be even higher on the solid than in the aqueous phase
