| abstract |
Wet oxidation of organic or inorganic contaminants in water so as to purify it is effected using as catalyst chelate complex compounds of sub-Group 1, 2 and/or 4-8 elements, the compounds preferably having dichalcogens as ligands, especially oxyketones, oxyaldehydes, oxyquinones, diketones (especially beta -diketones), enols, oxy-acids, dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids (or their esters), as well as their S or Se analogues. The catalysts are also claimed, especially those containing sub-Group 7 or 8 elements. |