Degradation and mineralization of furfural in aqueous solutions using heterogeneous catalytic ozonation

Abstract

The main aim of this experiment was to study the degradation of furfural in wastewater using catalytic ozonation process with granular activated carbon as a catalyst. Influences of the following parameters were investigated on furfural degradation; initial furfural concentration, solution pH, GAC dosage, and reaction time. In order to gain an understanding of the mechanism, involved these experiments were done in the presence of some radical scavengers. A significant synergistic effect between ozone and activated carbon was obtained in the oxidation and mineralization of furfural compared to single ozonation and adsorption on GAC processes, thus verifying the positive effect of coupling ozonation and GAC to degrade toxic compounds such as furfural. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that the efficiency of furfural removal increased with a decreasing size of AC particles due to an increased surface area. Measurements of COD in SOP and COP showed that more degradation and mineralization of furfural occurred in COP (80.2%) compared to single ozonation process (42.4%). Desorption studies were performed and they showed that percentages for recovery of furfural from GAC used in COP and single adsorption processes were 3.5 and 85.4, respectively.

Keywords:

• Wastewater
• Furfural
• Catalytic ozonation process
• Activated carbon

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Tarbiat Modares University for financial and instrumental supports. The authors also acknowledge Pars Oil and Gas Company for funding this study.