Shape-controlled Co3O4 catalysts for advanced oxidation of phenolic contaminants in aqueous solutions.

Three different Co 3 O 4 materials in sphere, cube and truncated cube were prepared by a hydrothermal process and tested in catalytic phenol degradation using oxone®. The properties of the Co 3 O 4 were characterized by several techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 adsorption, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Co 3 O 4 -cube is highly effective in heterogeneous activation of oxone® to produce sulfate radicals for phenol degradation and the activity of catalysts shows an order of Co 3 O 4 -cube > Co 3 O 4 -sphere > Co 3 O 4 -truncated cube. Kinetic study showed that phenol degradation followed a first order reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]