Mixed pillared bentonite for electrooxidation of phenol

Bentonite was pillared with Al, Al-Cu, Al-Fe or Al-Co poly(hydroxo metal) cations for electrochemical oxidation of phenol in acidic solution. Multisweep cyclic voltammetry was applied to analyze the behavior of the bentonite modified glassy carbon electrode. The influence of pillaring on the electrocatalytic properties was investigated. Reactivation of the electrodes after prolonged phenol oxidation was performed by cathodisation at -2 V.