Journal of Advanced Chemical Engineering

Abstract

Catalytic Ozonation: An Advanced Strategy for the Removal of Nitro Phenols from Contaminated Water

Shanthi S

Novel advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) show extraordinary potential for application in numerous waste water treatment. This research work provides a solution for the removal of nitro phenols a common water pollutant. All studies were done in batch mode in a constantly stirred reactor. Reactant ozonation can be viewed, firstly as homogeneous photo-catalytic ozonation, which depends on ozone activation by metal particles present in solution, and secondly as heterogeneous catalytic ozonation using Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). The present study reveals that Cr3+, Co2+, Ce4+ and Cu2+ ions favour the ozonation of nitro phenols by increasing the rate of ozonation and a much higher degradation of substrates was obtained in a given time. In case of heterogeneous catalytic ozonation using GAC catalyst, it was found that initially pollutants were adsorbed as the solution concentration decreased significantly within 5 minutes of contact. The maximum percentage reduction of the substrate was achieved in minimum possible time when catalysis was employed. The catalysts Co2+ and GAC gave the best results with respect to time and percentage degradation