Kinetics and Mechanism of Catalytic Ozonation of Aqueous Pollutants on Metal Oxide Catalysts

The catalytic ozonation of fenofibric and clofibric acids and the herbicides atrazine and linuron was studied using titanium dioxide, alumina, and manganese oxide supported on activated alumina and on silica SBA-15. The organics studied did not adsorb significantly either in wastewater or in phosphate-buffered water. The catalysts did not modify the rate of the hydroxyl-mediated ozonation with respect to the homogeneous value. The mode of action of metal oxide catalysts would be an enhanced generation of oxidant species from the catalytic decomposition of ozone. All catalysts increased the efficiency in the production of hydroxyl radicals from ozone.