Structured copper-containing MFI-type (Cu-MFI) zeolite catalysts on paper-like sintered stainless fiber (PSSF) were prepared by a secondary hydrothermal synthesis method and resulting in Cu-MFI coating with good relative crystallinity (80.7%), high BET surface area (237.5 m(2)/g) and uniform pore size distribution (2-3 nm). The influence of synthesis temperature (120-180 degrees C) and crystalline time (6-48 h) on the relative crystallinity and thickness of the MFI coating were investigated by XRD and SEM showing the adjustable coating thickness of SiCuMFI zeolite (1-7 mu m). Both framework and non-framework (as CuO phase) Cu species were identified for the prepared catalysts by XPS and H-2-TPR. Specifically, the framework Cu species were confirmed by FT-IR, Raman and UV-vis spectroscopic analyses, showing the effectiveness of the current method for promoting the incorporation of Cu in the MFI framework. A new impeller was designed to host the developed structured catalysts, which allowed the facile use of the catalyst for the practical application in a batch reactor for water/wastewater treatment. Catalytic tests (using phenol as the model pollutant) showed the outstanding catalytic activity of the developed catalysts (99% conversion after 40 min) with negligible Cu leaching (lower than 1 mg/L).