Applications of activated carbons in environmental catalysis

Activated carbons have recognized properties which make them frankly interesting materials in\nheterogeneous catalysis. However, their potential\napplication in environmental engineering has been\nso far restricted, except as adsorbents. However,\nalong more or less the last three decades there has\nbeen a growing interest on exploring these materials\nfor the abatement of gas and water pollutants by\ncatalytic emerging technologies. In the field of water\ntreatment particular attention has been paid to\nadvanced oxidation processes (AOPs) addressed\nto the removal of hazardous species of recalcitrant\ncharacter. Catalytic wet air and peroxide oxidation\n(CWAO and CWPO) are representative approaches\nwhere the potential application of activated carbons\nand other carbon materials is being investigated.\nHydrotreatment using carbon-supported catalysts\nrepresents an emerging technology focused on the\ndetoxification of aqueous streams contaminated by\norganohalogenated and nitrogen-bearing species.\nNitrate reduction is a particularly interesting case in\nthat respect. This technology has been also studied\nfor gas effluents. Some results on these potential\nsolutions are presented in this paper