Effect of Zeolite Chemical Surface Properties on Catalytic Ozonation of Methylene Blue Contaminated Waters

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation using natural zeolite has been recently reported. However, there is a lack in the information related to the influence of zeolite active surface sites in this combined system. This work presents experimental results on the effect of zeolite chemical surface properties on catalytic ozonation. Zeolite samples with different chemical surface compositions were prepared from natural zeolite. The effect of pH, and the presence of radical scavengers were assessed at laboratory scale. Results obtained here indicate that hydrous oxide sites present on zeolite surface (S–OH₂ ⁺, S–OH, S–O⁻) play a key role on the catalytic ozonation mechanism.

Keywords:

• Ozone
• Advanced oxidation processes
• Adsorption
• Catalytic ozonation
• Cationic dyes
• Zeolite

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was financially supported by FONDECYT (Grants No. 1060304 and 1060892) to whom the authors are indebted.

This paper was presented at ARTE'09, First International Workshop on the Application of Redox Technologies in the Environment, 14–15 September 2009, Istanbul (www.arte2009.itu.edu.tr)