Hydroxyl radical formation during ozonation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes: performance optimization and demonstration of a reactive CNT filter

A review of advancements in humic acid removal: Insights into adsorption techniques and hybrid solutions

Humic acid (HA) is a prominent contaminant in wastewater, and its elimination is crucial to ensure purified drinking water. A variety of sources of HA in wastewater exist, ranging from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and natural decomposition. Adsorption is a technique that has been heavily investigated in this direction. The process complexities, technological advancements, and sustainable approaches are discussed in this review. A range of adsorbents can be employed for HA removal, including modified membranes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), clay nanoparticles, and acid-modified natural materials. This work compares the effectiveness of the preceding adsorbents along with their advantages and limitations. This review also discusses the optimization of various process parameters, such as pH, ionic strength, and temperature, with an emphasis on response surface methodology for process optimization. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations associated with each removal technique are discussed, along with the potential areas for improvement and future directions in the field of wastewater treatment.

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation for the removal of antibiotics in water: A review

Antibiotics with pseudo-persistence in water have been regarded as emerging pollutants, which have obvious biological toxicity even at trace levels. On account of high reactivity, heterogeneous catalytic ozonation has been widely applied to remove antibiotics. Among the heterogeneous catalysts, with well-developed pores and regulable surface defects, carbon-based materials can act as both adsorbents and catalysts. Metal cations, surface hydroxyl (-OH) groups and oxygen vacancies (OVs) serve as primary active sites in metal oxides. However, composites (perovskite, apatite, etc.) with special crystalline structure have more crystallographic planes and abundant active sites. The unsaturated bonds and aromatic rings which have dense structure of the electron cloud are more likely to be attacked by ozone (O3) directly. Sulfonamides (SAs) can be oxidized by O3 directly within a short time due to the structure of activated aromatic rings and double bonds. With the existence of catalysts, almost all antibiotics can attain fair removal effects. The presence of water matrix can greatly influence the removal rate of pollutants via changing the surface properties of catalysts, competing active sites with O3, etc. Correspondingly, the application of diverse heterogeneous catalysts was introduced in details, based on modification including metal/non-metal doping, surface modification and carrier composite. The degradation pathways of SAs, fluoroquinolones (FQNs), tetracyclines (TCs) and β-lactams were summarized founded on the functional group structures. Furthermore, the effects of water matrix (pH, coexisting ions, organics) for catalytic ozonation were also debated. It is expected to proffer advanced guidance for researchers in catalytic ozonation of antibiotics.

Switching reactive oxygen species reactions derived from Mn-Pt anchored zeolite for selective catalytic ozonation

Rationally switching reactive oxygen species (ROS) reactions in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is urgently needed to improve the adaptability and efficiency for the engineering application. Herein we synthesized bimetallic Mn-Pt catalysts based on zeolite to realize the switching of ROS reactions in catalytic ozonation for sustainable degradation of organic pollutants from water. The ROS reactions switched from singlet oxygen (1O2, 71.01%) to radical-dominated (93.79%) pathway by simply introducing defects and changing Pt/Mn ratios. The oxygen vacancy induced by anchoring Mn-Pt species from zeolite external surface (MnPt/H-Beta) to internal framework (MnPt@Si-Beta) exposes more electron-rich Pt2+/Pt4+ redox sites, accelerating the decomposition of O3 to generate •OH via electron transfer and switching ROS reactions. The Mn site acted as a bridge plays a critical role in conducting electrons from organic pollutants to Pt sites, which solidly solves the electron loss of catalysts, facilitating the efficient degradation of pollutants. A 34.7-fold increase in phenol degradation compared with the non-catalytic ozonation and an excellent catalytic stability are achieved by MnPt@Si-Beta/O3. The 1O2-dominated ROS reaction originated from MnPt/H-Beta/O3 exhibits superior performances in anti-interference for Cl-, HCO3-, NO3-, and SO4-. This work establishes a novel strategy for switching ROS reactions to expand the targeted applications of O3 based AOPs for environmental remediation.

2D-Like Catalyst with a Micro-nanolinked Functional Surface for Water Purification

In water purification, the performance of heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes significantly relies upon the utilization of the catalyst's specific surface area (SSA). However, the presence of the structural "dead volume" and pore-size-induced diffusion-reaction trade-off limitation restricts the functioning of the SSA. Here, we reported an effective approach to make the best SSA by changing the traditional 3D spherule catalyst into a 2D-like form and creating an in situ micro-nanolinked structure. Thus, a 2D-like catalyst was obtained which was characterized by a mini "paddy field" surface, and it exhibited a sharply decreased dead volume, a highly available SSA and oriented flexibility. Given its paddy-field-like mass-transfer routine, the organic capture capability was 7.5-fold higher than that of the catalyst with mesopores only. Moreover, such a catalyst exhibited a record-high O3-to-·OH transition rate of 2.86 × 10-8 compared with reported millimetric catalysts (metal base), which contributed to a 6.12-fold higher total organic removal per catalyst mass than traditional 3D catalysts. The facile scale preparation, performance stability, and significant material savings with the 2D-like catalyst were also beneficial for practical applications. Our findings provide a unique and general approach for designing potential catalysts with excellent performance in water purification.

Mineralization characteristics and behavior of polyethylene microplastics through ozone-based treatment

The elimination of microplastics (MPs) has become an urgent issue due to their large quantities and imperfect treatment technologies. In this work, polyethylene (PE), which is ubiquitous in the environment, was selected to study its removal by ozone-based treatment. Catalysts including α-MnO2 and α-FeOOH were synthesized for catalytic ozonation to improve efficiency. The study focused on simulating the conversion of CO2 in the off-gas via the detection of inorganic carbon produced. The morphology and structure of the remaining PE MPs were characterized using scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflection. Our results confirmed that fragmentation and oxidation occurred in the remaining PE MPs, which enhanced the adsorption capacity of ofloxacin (OF). Besides, the 20 mM α-FeOOH could better improve the mineralization efficiency by 3.27 folds with more production of •OH (1.09*10-12 M). Moreover, possible products identified by liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometer confirmed the decomposition of main chains of MPs into low-molecular-weight organic compounds with functional groups such as C-OH, C-O-C, and CO. The finding that photoaged PE MPs could be efficiently mineralized under the attack of O3/•OH provides a solid foundation for the removal of natural MPs in the environment.

Kinetic constants and transformation products of ornidazole during ozonation

Ornidazole (ONZ), a nitroimidazole antibiotic detected in water bodies, may negatively impact the aquatic ecosystem. Its reaction kinetics during ozonation which is a feasible and applicable technology to control the contamination of emerging contaminants, however, has not been reported in literature. In this study, we measured the apparent second-order kinetic constant of ONZ with ozone molecules via the excessive ozone method and the competing method which led to an average value of 103.8 ± 2.7 M-1 s-1 at pH 7. The apparent second-order kinetic constant of ONZ with HO• was calculated to be 4.65 × 109 M-1 s-1 with the concept of Rct measured via para-chlorobenzoic acid as a probe. The transformation products (TPs) of ONZ during ozonation at pH 3 and pH 11 were separately analyzed with HPLC-MS/MS and some unique products were found at pH 11, reflecting the influence of HO•. The toxicity of individual TPs was predicted with the tool of T.E.S.T. It was found that 62% of 21 identified TPs could be more toxic than ONZ in terms of at least one acute toxicity endpoint, including chlorinated amines and N-oxides. The analysis with a respirometer further revealed that the toxicity of mixing TPs generated at HO• rich conditions was slightly lower than O3 dominated conditions. In general, this study provides the basic kinetic data for designing ozonation processes to eliminate ONZ and the important reference for understanding the toxicity evolution of ONZ during ozonation.

Pesticides removal from water using activated carbons and carbon nanotubes

The conventional water treatment technique (CT) widely applied cannot alone remove pesticides efficiently from water. Therefore, this work aimed to provide technical and scientific support for the association of pulverized activated carbon (PACs), granular activated carbon (GACs), and carbon nanotubes (CNT) with CT concerning atrazine (ATZ), simazine (SMZ), and diuron (DIU) removal. Actual conditions of pre/during, and post-treatment points of application, within water production process line, in water treatment plants (WTPs), using the pesticides in two forms, commercial product (CP) and analytical standard (SD). It was possible to demonstrate significant differences regarding the removal of ATZ, SMZ, and DIU in their SD and CP forms for the PACs, GACs, and CNTs. The minimum dosage of CNT required for adequate adsorption of all pesticides was superior to 160 mg. L-1; is 400% higher than the minimum dosage of 40 mg. L-1 is required for PAC application. ATZ, SMZ, and DIU in the SD form were more efficiently removed with percentages superior to 96.4% for ATZ, 98.2% for SMZ, and 99.1% for DIU. The characteristics of the adsorptive materials did not guide the adsorption efficacy. Instead, chemical interaction, contact time, and point application were critical factors. The pre-treatment and post-treatment applications were the most efficient, with removals oscillating from 97.7% to 100% for ATZ, 97.7% to 100% for SMZ, and 99.1 to 100% for DIU PAC and GAC, respectively.Highlights The pesticides forms of application, SD and CP, affect adsorption efficiency.Adsorbent point of application, in WTPLS, and contact time are key factors for pesticide removal.The primary adsorption mechanism in all the materials tested was chemical.The pre-treatment and post-treatment were the most efficient PACs and GACs application forms, respectively.

Ozone micro-bubble aeration using the ceramic ultrafiltration membrane with superior oxidation performance for 2, 4-D elimination

Micro-bubble aeration is an efficient way to promote ozonation performance, but the technology is challenged by extensive energy cost. Here, a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane was used to achieve ozone micro-bubble (0-80 µm) aeration in a simple way at gaseous pressures of 0.14-0.19 MPa. Compared with milli-bubble aeration, micro-bubble aeration increased the equilibrium aquatic O3 concentrations by 1.53-3.25 times and apparent O3 transfer rates by 3.12-3.35 times at pH 5.0-8.0. Consequently, the •OH yield was 2.67-3.54 times via faster O3 transfer to the aquatic solution followed by decomposition rather than interfacial reaction. Ozone micro-bubble aeration outperformed milli-bubble aeration, with the degradation kinetics of 2,4-D being 3.08-4.36 times higher. Both O3-oxidation and •OH oxidation were important to the promotion with the contributions being 35.8%-45.9% and 54.1%-64.2%, respectively. The operational and water matric conditions influenced the oxidation performance via both O3 oxidation and •OH oxidation, which is reported for the first time. In general, the ceramic membrane offered a low-energy approach of ozone micro-bubble aeration for efficient pollutant degradation. The O3 oxidation and •OH oxidation were proportionally promoted by ozone micro-bubble due to O3 transfer enhancement. Thus, the promotive mechanism can be interpreted as the synchronous enchantment on ozone exposure and •OH exposure for the first time.

Ozonation of carbamazepine in the presence of sulfur-dopped graphene: Effect of process parameters and formation of main transformation products

The stability of graphene structure in sulfur-doped graphene catalyst is demonstrated to be a key aspect during the ozonation process. Enhancing the stability of the sulfur-doped graphene structure is therefore important to improve its catalytic activity during the ozonation process. However, this has remained a challenge so far. Therefore, we adopted a low-energy microwave plasma technique to synthesize a high purity sulfur-doped graphene (S ⎯ Gr) catalyst for the ozonation process. The effect of S ⎯ Gr in the ozonation process was tested using carbamazepine (CBZ; 0.05 mM) as a probe compound. A complete CBZ removal was obtained at an ozone concentration of 0.08 mM while in comparison with single O₃, ∼1.5 and 2.5 times decrease in the formation of the two important intermediate transformation products i.e., BQM (1-(2-benzaldehyde) - 4-hydroxy (1H, 3H)-quinazoline-2-one) and BQD (1-(2-benzaldehyde) - (1H, 3H)-quinazoline-2, 4-dione) was observed. Radical scavenging experiments confirmed the formation of HO. The XPS results showed that the activity of S ⎯ Gr towards the formation of HO was positively related to S-bearing carbon atoms at the edge of the graphene structure. Therefore, the addition of S ⎯ Gr is directly linked with the formation of HO, which further contributed to the improved elimination of intermediate transformation products. With a low sulfur loss of 1 %, the microwave plasma synthesized S ⎯ Gr catalyst remained stable during ozonation, implying its feasibility in practical application.

Graphene Nanocomposite Membranes: Fabrication and Water Treatment Applications

Graphene, a two-dimensional hexagonal honeycomb carbon structure, is widely used in membrane technologies thanks to its unique optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, chemical and photoelectric properties. The light weight, mechanical strength, anti-bacterial effect, and pollution-adsorption properties of graphene membranes are valuable in water treatment studies. Incorporation of nanoparticles like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal oxide into the graphene filtering nanocomposite membrane structure can provide an improved photocatalysis process in a water treatment system. With the rapid development of graphene nanocomposites and graphene nanocomposite membrane-based acoustically supported filtering systems, including CNTs and visible-light active metal oxide photocatalyst, it is necessary to develop the researches of sustainable and environmentally friendly applications that can lead to new and groundbreaking water treatment systems. In this review, characteristic properties of graphene and graphene nanocomposites are examined, various methods for the synthesis and dispersion processes of graphene, CNTs, metal oxide and polymer nanocomposites and membrane fabrication and characterization techniques are discussed in details with using literature reports and our laboratory experimental results. Recent membrane developments in water treatment applications and graphene-based membranes are reviewed, and the current challenges and future prospects of membrane technology are discussed.

Hydrogen peroxide and peroxymonosulfate intensifying Fe-doped NiC-Al2O3-framework-based catalytic ozonation for advanced treatment of landfill leachate: Performance and mechanisms

The biotreated effluent of landfill leachate still contains numerous refractory organic contaminants, which poses potential threats to human health and ecosystems. Influenced by landfill ages and other factors, the concentration of organic matter varies. Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) is a promising technology for advanced wastewater treatment. Aiming to achieve the up-to-standard discharge of low-concentration landfill leachate (COD ≈ 108 mg·L^-1) and improve the biodegradability of high-concentration landfill leachate (COD ≈ 1720 mg·L^-1), the active component Fe was incorporated into a firm Ni-induced C-Al₂O₃-framework (_NiCAF) composite support to synthesize a Fe-_NiCAF catalyst for efficient catalytic ozonation. When the Fe-_NiCAF dosage was 4 g·L^-1, the gas flow rate was 0.5 L·min^-1, and the ozone concentration was 20.0 mg·L^-1, the COD of low-concentration landfill leachate effluent decreased to 43 mg·L^-1, and the COD removal rate constant of low-concentration landfill leachate was 154% higher than that of pure ozone. For high-concentration landfill leachate with the BOD₅/COD of 0.058, the COD removal efficiency in Fe-_NiCAF/O₃ increased from 39% to 57% compared with ozonation, and the effluent BOD₅/COD increased to 0.282. Furthermore, the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) can further enhance the treatment performance of Fe-_NiCAF/O₃ process and different strengthening mechanisms were revealed. The results indicated that surface hydroxyls on the Fe-_NiCAF catalyst surface were the main catalytic sites for ozone, and hydroxyl radical (•OH) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) were identified as the main reactive oxygen species for the removal of organics in landfill leachate. Adding H₂O₂ can promote the generation of •OH for nonselective degradation of various organics, while PMS mainly enhanced the production of ¹O₂ to decompose macromolecular humus. This work highlighted an efficient Fe-_NiCAF ozone catalyst and an innovative peroxide intensified HCO strategy for the advanced treatment of landfill leachate.

Prediction of pharmaceutical and personal care products elimination during heterogeneous catalytic ozonation via chemical kinetic model

Prediction of the removal of pollutants is important for the process design and optimization of wastewater treatment. In this study, the heterogeneous catalytic ozonation chemical kinetic model based on reaction kinetic constants between O₃ (and •OH) and pollutants, and pseudo-first order rate constants for pollutant adsorption was established. The model parameters were obtained via O₃ and p-chlorobenzonic acid decay curves, and adsorption kinetic experiments, respectively. Higher •OH exposures were obtained at the expense of lower O₃ exposures during catalytic ozonation compared to simple ozonation. Importantly, the experimentally measured and model-predicted removal ratios correlated well in all reaction systems, with correlation coefficients above 0.950 in synthetic solution and 0.893-0.979 in secondary effluent. Furthermore, the model revealed that pollutants were degraded mainly by O₃ and/or •OH oxidation during catalytic ozonation, while adsorption of pollutants on catalysts contributed negligibly. Hence, the degradation ratios of pollutants could be satisfactorily predicted using the simplified model based only on the O₃ and •OH exposures in the heterogeneous catalytic ozonation systems with low adsorption capacity catalysts.

Recent Developments in Activated Carbon Catalysts Based on Pore Size Regulation in the Application of Catalytic Ozonation

Due to its highly developed pore structure and large specific surface area, activated carbon is often used as a catalyst or catalyst carrier in catalytic ozonation. Although the pore structure of activated carbon plays a significant role in the treatment of wastewater and the mass transfer of ozone molecules, the effect is complicated and unclear. Because different application scenarios require catalysts with different pore structures, catalysts with appropriate pore structure characteristics should be developed. In this review, we systematically summarized the current adjustment methods for the pore structure of activated carbon, including raw material, carbonization, activation, modification, and loading. Then, based on the brief introduction of the application of activated carbon in catalytic ozonation, the effects of pore structure on catalytic ozonation and mass transfer are reviewed. Furthermore, we proposed that the effect of pore structure is mainly to provide catalytic active sites, promote free radical generation, and reduce mass transfer resistance. Therefore, large external surface area and reasonable pore size distribution are conducive to catalytic ozonation and mass transfer.

Challenges and pitfalls in the investigation of the catalytic ozonation mechanism: A critical review

Catalytic ozonation is a promising technology for pollutant abatement in water and wastewater treatment. However, there are many controversies and contradictions regarding the mechanisms of catalytic ozonation in literature, which has seriously confounded the development of the technology towards industrial applications. Herein, a critical review of literature is conducted to reveal possible underlying causes of the controversies and contradictions, and several common pitfalls in the experimental design and data interpretation are identified, e.g., the fundamentally flawed quenching method popularly used for evaluating the role of reactive oxygen species for pollutant abatement in catalytic ozonation and the neglect of monitoring ozone transfer doses in lab-scale experiments. Based on the identified pitfalls, several measures are suggested to improve the experimental design and data interpretation of catalytic ozonation studies. In addition, recent advances in mechanistic understanding of catalytic ozonation by principle-based modelling approaches are described. Finally, additional works that are needed to shrink the gap between academic research and practical applications and the prospect of catalytic ozonation in future water and wastewater treatment systems are analyzed.

Cost and efficiency perspectives of ceramic membranes for water treatment

More robust ceramic membranes with tailorable structures and functions are increasingly employed for water treatment, particularly in some harsh applications for their ultra-long service lifespan due to their high mechanical, structural, chemical and thermal stability and anti-fouling properties. Decreasing cost and enhancing efficiency are two key but quite challenging application-oriented issues for broader and larger-scale engineering application of current ceramic membranes, and are required to make ceramic membranes a highly efficient and economic water treatment technique. In this review, we critically discuss these two significant concerns of both cost and efficiency for water treatment ceramic membranes, focusing on an overview of various advanced strategies and mechanism insights. A brief up-to-date discussion is first introduced about recent developments of ceramic membranes covering the major advances of novel membranes and applications. Then some promising strategies for decreasing the cost of ceramic membranes are discussed, including membrane material cost and processing cost. To fully address the issue of moderate efficiency with single separation function, valuable and considerable insights are provided into recent major progress and mechanism understandings in application with other unit processes, such as advanced oxidation and electrochemistry techniques, to significantly enhance treatment efficiency. Subsequently, a review of recent ceramic membrane applications emphasizing harsh operating environments is presented, such as oil-water separation, saline water, refractory organic and emerging contaminant wastewater treatment. Finally, engineering application, conclusions, and future perspectives of ceramic membrane for water treatment applications are critically discussed offering new insight based on understanding the issues of cost and efficiency.

High-efficiency treatment of electroless nickel plating effluent using core-shell MnFe2O4-C@Al2O3 combined with ozonation: Performance and mechanism

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) has been widely applied for the treatment of wastewater. In order to maintain the structural stability and surface catalytic activity of heterogeneous catalysts during the HCO treatment of electroless nickel plating effluent (ENPE), a MnFe₂O₄-C@Al₂O₃ catalyst with a core-shell structure was synthesized. MnFe₂O₄-C@Al₂O₃ was characterized and applied in the removal of total nickel (T_Ni) and organic contaminants from actual ENPE, using a coupled system of HCO combined with a magnetic dithiocarbamate chelating resin (MnFe₂O₄-C@Al₂O₃/O₃-MDCR). Results show that embedding Al₂O₃ with C and MnFe₂O₄ significantly increased the T_Ni removal efficiency (99.3%), enhanced the O₃-utilization efficiency and improved the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The reaction rate (k = 0.7641 min^-1) and O₃-utilization efficiency established for T_Ni removal (ΔT_Ni/ΔO₃ =0.221) by the MnFe₂O₄-C@Al₂O₃/O₃-MDCR system, were 220% and 140% higher than the Al₂O₃/O₃-MDCR system, respectively. Catalytic mechanism analysis demonstrated that surface hydroxyl groups, oxygen vacancy, metals, the carbon surface and its functional groups, can all potentially serve as catalytic active sites, with ¹O₂ and •OH considered to the predominant ROS. Overall, these findings verify that the synthesized MnFe₂O₄-C@Al₂O₃ catalyst possesses excellent catalytic capabilities and outstanding structural stability, making it suitable for practical application in the treatment of wastewater effluent.

Fe-Mn doped powdered activated carbon pellet as ozone catalyst for cost-effective phenolic wastewater treatment: Mechanism studies and phenol by-products elimination

A novel bimetallic doped PAC (Fe-Mn/PAC) pellet was prepared with a facile sol-gel method and used as an ozone catalyst for phenolic wastewater (PWW) treatment. Adoption of Fe-Mn/PAC pellet in microbubble ozonation enhanced the 1-h chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenol removal in PWW to 79% and 95%, respectively. With ozone dosage of 10 mg/L, 1 g/L Fe-Mn/PAC pellet exhibited ozone conversion of 92%. In comparison to microbubble ozonation process, Fe-Mn/PAC induced microbubble-catalytic ozonation process promoted ozone decomposition rate by 1.9 times. In terms of ^•OH production, Fe-Mn/PAC pellet enhanced ^•OH exposure by 10 times, with a R_ct value of 2.92 × 10 ^-8. R_ct kinetic model also suggested that Fe-Mn/PAC pellet obtained higher kinetic rate constants for initiating and promoting ^•OH generation. Usage of Fe-Mn/PAC pellet in microbubble ozonation for phenolic wastewater treatment also reduced the total ozone consumption by 70%. In Fe-Mn/PAC induced microbubble-catalytic ozonation process, the ratio between ozone consumption and COD removal (ΔO₃/ΔCOD) was 0.91. Fe-Mn/PAC pellet characterization with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed successful doping of Fe-Mn on PAC substrate and larger numbers of carbon-oxygen/hydroxyl surface groups, which played key roles in ozone decomposition and ^•OH production.

Bifunctional Fe for Induced Graphitization and Catalytic Ozonation Based on a Fe/N-Doped Carbon-Al2O3 Framework: Theoretical Calculations Guided Catalyst Design and Optimization

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation is regarded as a feasible technology in advanced wastewater treatment. Catalytic performance, mass transfer, and mechanical strength are the key elements for large-scale applications of catalysts. To optimize those elements, Fe was selected for its dual role in graphitization and catalytic ozonation. A Fe/N-doped micron-scale carbon-Al2O3 framework (CAF) was designed and applied to a fluidized catalytic process for the treatment of secondary effluent from coal gasification. The chemical oxygen demand removal rate constant and the hydroxyl radical generation efficiency (Rct) of the Fe/N-doped CAF were 190% and 429% higher than those of pure ozone, respectively. Theoretical calculations revealed that higher Fe valence promoted ozone decomposition, which implied increasing FeIII content for further catalyst optimization. The rate constant and Rct with a higher FeIII-proportion catalyst were increased by 13% and 16%, respectively, compared to those with the lower one. Molecular dynamics and density functional theory calculations were performed to analyze the reaction kinetics qualitatively and quantitatively. The energy barrier corresponding to FeIII configuration was 1.32 kcal mol-1, 27% lower than that for FeII configuration. These theoretical calculations guided the catalyst optimization and provided a novel solution for designing ozonation catalysts. The Fe/N-doped CAF demonstrated a great potential for practical applications.

Simultaneous Dechlorination and Advanced Oxidation Using Electrically Conductive Carbon Nanotube Membranes

Electrically conductive membranes have shown significant promise in combining conventional separations with in situ contaminant oxidation, but little has been done to consider chlorine removal. This study demonstrates the simultaneous chlorine removal and oxidation of organic compounds during filtration using an electrochemically assisted electrically conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane. As much as 80% of chlorine was removed in the feed by CNT membranes at the initial phase of continuous filtration. The efficacy of these CNT membranes toward chlorine removal was dependent on the mass of CNTs within the membranes and the applied pressure to the membranes, indicating the central role of available CNT active sites and sufficient reaction time. Furthermore, the removal mechanism of chlorine by CNTs was revealed by studying the degradation of benzoic acid and cyclic voltammetry on the membrane surface. Reactive oxidants were generated by the reductive decomposition of chlorine through the catalytic interaction with CNTs. Subsequently, electrical potentials were applied to the CNT membrane surfaces during the filtration of chlorinated feed waters. The simultaneous decomposition of chlorine and oxidation of benzoic acid were significantly enhanced by applying a cathodic current to CNT membranes enabling continuous dechlorination. The cathodic current applied to CNT membranes is believed to regenerate CNT membranes by providing electrons for the reductive decomposition of chlorine. In situ chemical-free dechlorination coupled with membrane filtration offers great opportunity to reducing the environmental impact of desalination, while maximizing the lifetime of reverse osmosis membranes and demonstrating greener approaches available to industrial water treatment.

Direct and efficient reduction of perfluorooctanoic acid using bimetallic catalyst supported on carbon

A variety of metal elements have exhibited strong reductive and dehalogenative capabilities for the removal of persistent organic pollutants, owing to electron transfer or electron-hole activation through various methods. Herein, a bimetallic C_Ni-Al₂O₃ structure (AlC_Ni) was successfully synthesized to simultaneously function as sorbent and catalyst in the reduction of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFOA) polluted wastewater. Using a reaction period of 3 h, 98% of PFOA was removed by AlC_Ni through a mechanochemical stirring method and 70.43% of fluorine ions was released from PFOA anchored onto the surface of AlC_Ni. Both thermocatalysis and photocatalysis technologies were incorporated and compared when utilized in tandem with AlC_Ni to mitigate the PFOA. In addition, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) were also integrated into experiments, separately, as a strong oxidant and reductant to improve the degradation effect of PFOA. However, the degradation efficiency of both were lower than that of AlC_Ni, even when assisted by elevated temperatures and ultraviolet irradiation. The feasibility of employing AlC_Ni for PFOA degradation was further investigated at various temperature and pH conditions. The data obtained from HPLC-MS/MS, TOC, and IC with multiple characterizations of AlC_Ni/PFOA, proposed the predominant degradation pathways comprising adsorption, defluorination-hydroxylation, and decarboxylation. This study provides a valuable remediation method without utilizing chemical agents and special activation for PFOA by AlC_Ni, which can be suitable for large-scale sewage treatment applications.

Efficient degradation of clofibric acid by heterogeneous catalytic ozonation using CoFe2O4 catalyst in water

CoFe₂O₄ (Cobalt ferrite, CF) nanoparticles were prepared, well characterized and applied as efficient solid catalyst in catalytic ozonation, named CF/O₃ process, for the removal of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs). The degradation and mineralization of clofibric acid (CA) in CF/O₃ process were dramatically enhanced in comparison with those under the O₃ system. Surface hydroxyl groups (HGs) were considered as an important factor for ozone decomposition and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the catalyst surface were mainly responsible for CA elimination. The contribution and formation of ROS, including hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), especially superoxide radicals (O₂^•-), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were evaluated, and a rational mechanism was elucidated accordingly. Probable degradation pathway of CA was proposed according to the organic intermediates identified. The acute toxicity of the treated solution increased during the first 15 min and then declined rapidly and nearly disappeared as the reaction proceeded. In addition, acceptable catalytic performance of CF/O₃ can be obtained for the treatment of other EOCs and the treatment of natural surface water spiked with CA. This work presents an efficient and promising catalytic ozonation technique for the elimination of EOCs in complex water matrices.

Catalytic ozonation of norfloxacin using Co3O4/C composite derived from ZIF-67 as catalyst

In this study, Co₃O₄-carbon composite was synthesized by calcined metal organic framework (MOF) ZIF-67 and used as efficient catalysts for ozonation of norfloxacin (NOF). The MOF-derived Co₃O₄-C composite remained similar polyhedrons structure of ZIF-67, suggesting that Co₃O₄ was well-dispersed in Co₃O₄-C composite. Furthermore, a larger amount of surface carbon-oxygen functional groups were distributed on Co₃O₄-C composite, which resulted in the diversification of active sites for catalytic ozonation reaction. NOF degradation and mineralization could be effectively enhanced in Co₃O₄-C/O₃ process. Moreover, NOF mineralization by catalytic ozonation strongly depended on the solution pH, while other operational conditions, such as O₃ concentration and catalyst dosage had not obvious influence on it. Co₃O₄-C composite could significantly accelerate O₃ decomposition to produce active free radicals (such as •OH), which enhanced the mineralization of NOF. The possible catalytic mechanism of Co₃O₄-C composite was proposed. Additionally, after five consecutive use of Co₃O₄-C composite in catalytic ozonation process, there was no obvious decrease in TOC removal efficiency, indicating a stable performance of Co₃O₄-C composite, which was suitable for the catalytic ozonation for wastewater treatment.

The critical contribution of oxidation debris on the acidic properties of graphene oxide in an aqueous solution

The contribution of oxidation debris (OD) to the acidity of graphene oxide (GO) was investigated in this study. With Na₂CO₃ as the titrator base, the Boehm titration results showed that the total acidity of GO in an aqueous solution decreased from 9.72 to 2.74 mmol g^-1 after a thorough removal of OD and that the total acidity of OD was 26.45 mmol g^-1. Thermogravimetric analyses showed that the mass ratios of OD and residual graphene sheets (named bwGO) were ∼26 % and ∼73 % of the whole pristine GO, respectively. Based on the quantitative relationships between the mass ratio and acid site density, it was concluded that the total acidity of GO was equal to the sum of the acidity from bwGO and the OD contained in GO. Under alkaline conditions, the splitting and stripping of OD was attributed to the combined effect of the cleavage of H-bonds by nucleophilic attack from OH- and the electrostatic repulsion due to the ionization of carboxylic acids, in which the former became dominant when the pH shifted to neutral and weakly acidic. This study provides an explanation for the origin of GO acidity in aqueous solutions and highlights the role of OD in the chemistry of GO.

Graphene oxide enhanced ozonation of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one: Kinetics, degradation pathway, and toxicity

Kathon is among the most common non-oxidative biocides, containing 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and methylisothiazolone (MIT) as the active ingredients. In our previous work, MIT was shown to be efficiently removed by ozonation. In this work, we found that ozonation didn't readily degrade CMIT. Rate constants [Formula: see text] and k_·OH,CMIT, determined to be 6.43 L mol^-1 s^-1 and 7.8 × 10⁹ L mol^-1 s^-1, indicated that hydroxyl radicals played a more important role than ozone molecule in the CMIT ozonation which was also proved by the significant inhibition (55.7 %) when adding t-butanol (TBA). Graphene oxide (GO) greatly enhanced the CMIT ozonation, and degradation efficiency raised from 15 % to 100 % after 10 min through the increased production of hydroxyl radical. Basic conditions benefited the CMIT degradation compared with acidic and neutral conditions by promoting ozone decomposition and hydroxyl radical generation, while high carbonate and humic acid concentrations had slight influence on the CMIT degradation. In spite of the complex water matrix, CMIT degradation by GO enhanced ozonation was applicable in reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC). Based on the identification of the inorganic and organic products, a possible CMIT degradation pathway was proposed. However, CMIT transformation products still showed toxicity to Photobacterium phosphoreum and Daphnia magna even after a longer ozonation time.

Mechanistic insights into the catalytic ozonation process using iron oxide-impregnated activated carbon

In the present study, radiolabelled formate was used as a probe compound in order to gain mechanistic insight into the catalytic ozonation process using a commercially available iron oxide-impregnated activated carbon catalyst. We simultaneously analysed the adsorptive and oxidative removal of formate in order to determine the contribution of the catalyst to adsorption and oxidant generation processes respectively. Our results show that the presence of the catalyst enhanced ozone decay as well as the rate and extent of formate oxidation at pH 3.0 compared to that observed in the presence of ozone alone as a result of oxidant generation via O₃-Fe oxide interaction. A reduction in rate and extent of formate oxidation on addition of t-butanol and Cl^- (known hydroxyl radical (^•OH) scavengers under acidic conditions) provides evidence that the oxidant generated during catalytic ozonation at pH 3.0 is ^•OH. Moreover, the oxidation of formate during catalytic ozonation mostly occurs at the solid-liquid interface and/or in bulk solution with adsorption playing no role in the overall oxidation process with this finding supported by the exceptionally high oxidation efficiency compared to the extent of adsorption observed when no O₃ was added. While catalytic ozonation was effective in formate oxidation at pH 3.0, the presence of the catalyst did not lead to an increase in either the rate or extent of formate oxidation at pH 7.3 and 8.5 suggesting that only protonated iron oxide surface sites generate strong oxidant(s) on interaction with O₃. Based on our understanding of the processes operating during the ozonation and catalytic ozonation processes, a mathematical model has been developed that adequately describes the experimental results obtained here. Overall, this study shows that systematic measurement of ozone decay, removal of the parent compound as well as formation of the oxidized products under well controlled conditions are required for unequivocal elucidation of the mechanism of catalytic ozonation.

Reactive Oxygen Species and Catalytic Active Sites in Heterogeneous Catalytic Ozonation for Water Purification

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) processes have been widely studied for water purification. The reaction mechanisms of these processes are very complicated because of the simultaneous involvement of gas, solid, and liquid phases. Although typical reaction mechanisms have been established for HCO, some of them are only appropriate for specific systems. The divergence and deficiency in mechanisms hinders the development of novel active catalysts. This critical review compares the various existing mechanisms and categorizes the catalytic oxidation of HCO into radical-based oxidation and nonradical oxidation processes with an in-depth discussion. The catalytic active sites and adsorption behaviors of O₃ molecules on the catalyst surface are regarded as the key clues for further elucidating the O₃ activation processes, evolution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or organic oxidation pathways. Moreover, the detection methods of the ROS produced in both types of oxidations and their roles in the destruction of organics are reviewed with discussion of some specific problems among them, including the scavengers selection, experiment results analysis as well as some questionable conclusions. Finally, alternative strategies for the systematic investigation of the HCO mechanism and the prospects for future studies are envisaged.

A hybrid fluidized-bed reactor (HFBR) based on arrayed ceramic membranes (ACMs) coupled with powdered activated carbon (PAC) for efficient catalytic ozonation: A comprehensive study on a pilot scale

Taking advantage of the high mass transfer in the bulk solution of fluidized-bed reactor (FBR), and the benefits of simultaneous particle separation and ozone catalysis on ceramic membranes, we proposed a hybrid fluidized-bed reactor (HFBR) based on arrayed ceramic membranes (ACMs) coupled with powdered activated carbon (PAC) for efficient catalytic ozonation. The optimum HFBR performance on a pilot scale was found at PAC addition of 3 g/L, ozone dosage of 25 mg/L, hydraulic retention time of 60 min and auxiliary aeration strength of 5 m³/h. During the 30-day treatment of coal-gasification secondary effluent (200 L/h), the HFBR system revealed not only a 117% increase in ozone utilization efficiency (ΔCOD/ΔO₃) upon pure ozonation but also a highly purified effluent with better sterilization and low residual bromate (∼11 μg/L). Low-molecular-weight organic fragments and acids, as well as phthalate esters were identified as the main products in this process. By density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it was found the main functional groups (carbonyls, -C=O) on the PAC could be protected from direct ozonation in the presence of ozone-degradable organics (e.g. phenolic and aliphatic compounds) in the wastewater through an ozone-competing reaction, which prevented the rapid inactivation of the PAC in catalytic ozonation. A longer service life and cheaper materials for ceramic membranes would benefit low operation costs for the HFBR. Moreover, the addition of PAC could greatly reduce ozone demand by ∼60% in the HFBR, and therefore decrease energy consumption by ∼30%. Hence, the HFBR was proved to be a highly competitive technology for wide application in the near future.

Development of Stable Boron Nitride Nanotube and Hexagonal Boron Nitride Dispersions for Electrophoretic Deposition

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) represent a relatively new class of materials that provides alternative electrical and thermal properties to the carbon analogue. The high chemical and thermal stability and large band gap combined with high electrical resistance make BNNTs desirable in several thin-film applications. In this study, stable BNNT and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) particle dispersions have been developed using environmentally friendly advanced oxidation processing (AOP) that can be further modified for electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to produce thin films. The characterization of the dispersions has revealed how the hydroxyl radicals produced in AOP react with BNNT/hBN and contaminant boron nanoparticles (BNPs). While the radicals remove the carbon contaminant present on BNNT/hBN and increase dispersion stability, they also oxidize the BNPs and the boron oxide produced, which, conversely, reduces the dispersion stability. The use of high- or low-powered ultrasonication in combination with the AOP affects the rate of the competing reactions, with low-powered sonication and AOP providing the best combination for producing stable dispersions with high concentrations. BNNT/hBN dispersions were functionalized with polyethyleneimine to facilitate EPD, where films of several micrometer thickness were readily deposited onto stainless steel and glass-fiber fabrics. BNNT/hBN films produced on glass fabrics by EPD exhibited a consistent through-thickness macroporosity that was facilitated by platelet and nanotube stacking. The film macroporosity present on the coated fabrics was suitable for use as separator layers in supercapacitors and provided improved device robustness with a minimal impact on electrochemical performance.

A stable and easily prepared copper oxide catalyst for degradation of organic pollutants by peroxymonosulfate activation

A direct one-step calcination preparation of CuO catalyst (CuO-3) using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as nonionic polymeric structure directing agent was developed for activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The morphological and physicochemical properties of the CuO-3 were characterized and the catalytic activity for degradation of organic pollutants was evaluated. The resultant CuO-3 with significantly enhanced surface area exhibited excellent catalytic performance of phenolic organic pollutants degradation. The reaction mechanism of the PMS/CuO system was systematically investigated with a series of radical quenching tests and the analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Quite different from traditional hydroxyl radicals (OH) and sulfate radical (SO₄^-) based advanced oxidation processes, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was identified as the dominate reactive species responsible for the degradation of organic pollutants. Moreover, the main formation pathway of ¹O₂ was also investigated. The results indicated that the superoxide radical (O₂^-) was involved in the generation of ¹O₂ as a crucial precursor. Also, the PMS/CuO-3 system exhibited satisfactory stability and reusability under neutral conditions as well as high removal of organic pollutants in the presence of inorganic anions. This work not only provides a novel and stable preparation method for CuO catalyst, but also gives a deeper insight into the mechanisms of PMS activation by CuO.

Synergism of ozonation and electrochemical filtration during advanced organic oxidation

Here, we investigated the synergistic effect towards phenol degradation and mineralization between ozonation (O₃) and electrochemical filtration (ECF) using perforated titanium as cathode and porous carbon nanotube (CNT) networks as anode. A flow rate of 1.6 mL min^-1, 10 mM of sodium sulfate electrolyte, 1.0 mM of phenol (model aromatic compound), and an ozone dose of 12 mgO₃ L^-1 were used. Insight into the synergistic mechanism was achieved via carbon anode morphology characterization and phenol degradation kinetics analysis. Improved kinetic performance was observed for the combined process (O₃-ECF) as compared to the sum of the individual processes, not only towards phenol degradation (3.2-fold increase), but also towards phenol mineralization (2.2-fold increase). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a significant decrease of polymer formation and deposition on CNT after the hybrid O₃-ECF process as compared to the ECF alone. Voltage-dependent (0-2.5 V) ozone CNT functionalization was investigated at pH 7-11 to assist in elucidation of the synergistic mechanism. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated increases up to 26-fold in CNT oxygen content post-ozonation at pH 7 comparing to fresh CNT. Various potential O₃-ECF synergistic reaction mechanisms for organic aromatic oxidation and mineralization are discussed.

Simultaneous ozone and granular activated carbon for advanced treatment of micropollutants in municipal wastewater effluent

The main objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of ozone (O₃) and O₃ with granular activated carbon (GAC) (O₃/GAC) at pilot-scale for the enhanced removal of micropollutants (MPs) from wastewater effluent. The results revealed enhanced removal of tris (2-carboxylethyl) phosphine (TCEP), sucralose, and meprobamate during the O₃/GAC treatment experiments compared to the sum of their removal during isolated ozonation and GAC adsorption experiments. The long-term O₃/GAC experiment showed the promotive effect of GAC substantially decreased after 20 h of O₃ exposure. This decreased performance correlates with changes to GAC surface properties caused by O₃. After 6 h of operation, O₃ initially led to an increase in Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area on the GAC improving the elimination level of investigated MPs (except N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR)). However, after 20 h of exposure, O₃ ultimately caused structural damages to the GAC surface, decreased the BET surface area in the final stages of the experiment, and a 4-fold increase in O_1s:C_1s ratio on the GAC surface was observed due to an increase in surface acidic functional groups caused by O₃ treatment.

Removal of Reactive Dyes in Textile Effluents by Catalytic Ozonation Pursuing on-Site Effluent Recycling

The textile wash-off process consumes substantial amounts of water, which generates large volumes of wastewater that pose potential pollution issues for the environment. In the present study, catalytic ozonation was applied to degrade residual dyes present in rinsing effluents from wash-off processes towards the aim of recycling the waste effluents. A magnetic catalyst was prepared for promoting dye degradation by catalytic ozonation. Via a hydrothermal reaction, highly magnetic manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) particles were successfully loaded on carbon aerogel (CA) materials (MnFe₂O₄@CA). The results showed that the developed catalyst strikingly promoted the degradation of dye contaminants by catalytic ozonation, in terms of color removal and reduction of chemical oxidation demand (COD) in rinsing effluents. COD removal efficiency in catalytic ozonation was enhanced by 25% when compared with that achieved by ozonation alone under the same treatment conditions. Moreover, we confirmed that after catalytic ozonation, the rinsing effluents could be recycled to replace fresh water without any evident compromise in the color quality of fabrics. The color difference (ΔE_cmc(2:1)) between fabrics treated with recycled effluents and water was not more than 1.0, suggesting that the fabrics treated with recycled effluents displayed acceptable color reproducibility. Although colorfastness and color evenness of fabrics treated with recycled effluents were slightly poorer than those of fabrics treated with water, they were still within the acceptable tolerance. Therefore, the present study validated that catalytic ozonation was a promising technology for saving water and wastewater elimination in textile dyeing. It provides a feasibility assessment of catalytic ozonation for recycling waste effluents to reduce water dependence in textile production. Furthermore, we show a new perspective in on-site recycling waste effluents by catalytic ozonation and enrich the knowledge on feasible approaches for water management in textile production.

Effective mineralization of quinoline and bio-treated coking wastewater by catalytic ozonation using CuFe2O4/Sepiolite catalyst: Efficiency and mechanism

In this study, CuFe₂O₄ nanocomposite loaded on natural sepiolite (CuFe₂O₄/SEP) was prepared by the citrate sol-gel method. CuFe₂O₄/SEP was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The CuFe₂O₄/SEP composite was stable and showed an excellent catalytic activity for ozonation. The efficiency of quinoline mineralization in the catalytic ozonation with CuFe₂O₄/SEP was 90.3%, and this value was 5.4 times higher than that of the uncatalyzed ozonation (16.8%). The quinoline mineralization followed a pseudo first-order kinetics with all the catalysts. The rate constant for the mineralization of quinoline by ozonation in the presence of CuFe₂O₄/SEP was 0.0885 min^-1, which was 16.7 times higher than that in ozone alone (0.0053 min^-1). Radical scavenging tests revealed that hydroxyl radical (OH) and superoxide radical (O₂^-) were the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the quinoline degradation. In the presence of CuFe₂O₄/SEP, ozone and hydrogen peroxide were rapidly converted into the ROS. Although neutral and alkaline pH were more beneficial for the quinoline mineralization, CuFe₂O₄/SEP exhibited significant catalytic activity even under acidic conditions. Meanwhile, five-cycle successive tests suggested that CuFe₂O₄/SEP was recyclable and hence, stable. Furthermore, the feasibility of the catalytic ozonation for the treatment of biologically treated coking wastewater was evaluated. The catalytic ozonation resulted in 57.81% total organic carbon removal efficiency at 60 min, which was 2.9 times higher than that in the uncatalyzed ozonation (19.99%).

Ni-Induced C-Al2O3-Framework (NiCAF) Supported Core-Multishell Catalysts for Efficient Catalytic Ozonation: A Structure-to-Performance Study

During catalytic ozonation, Al₂O₃-supported catalysts usually have stable structures but relatively low surface activity, while carbon-supported catalysts are opposite. To encourage their synergisms, we designed a Ni-induced C-Al₂O₃-framework (_NiCAF) and reinforced it with a Cu-Co bimetal to create an efficient catalyst (CuCo/_NiCAF) with a core-multishell structure. The partial graphitization of carbon adjacent to Ni crystals formed a strong out-shell on the catalyst surface. The rate constant for total organic carbon removal of CuCo/_NiCAF (0.172 ± 0.018 min^-1) was 67% and 310% higher than that of Al₂O₃-supported catalysts and Al₂O₃ alone, respectively. The metals on CuCo/_NiCAF contributed to surface-mediated reactions during catalytic ozonation, while the embedded carbon enhanced reactions within the solid-liquid boundary layer and in the bulk solution. Moreover, carbon embedment provided a 76% increase in ·OH-production efficiency and an 86% increase in organic-adsorption capacity compared to Al₂O₃-supported catalysts. During the long-term treatment of coal-gasification wastewater (∼5 m³ day^-1), the pilot-scale demonstration of CuCo/_NiCAF-catalyzed ozonation revealed a 120% increase in ozone-utilization efficiency (ΔCOD/ΔO₃ = 2.12) compared to that of pure ozonation (0.96). These findings highlight catalysts supported on _NiCAF as a facile and efficient approach to achieve both high catalytic activity and excellent structural stability, demonstrating that they are highly viable for practical applications.

Activation of ferrate by carbon nanotube for enhanced degradation of bromophenols: Kinetics, products, and involvement of Fe(V)/Fe(IV)

Very recently, several studies have found that homogeneous reducing agents (e.g., sodium thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃), and sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃)) can activate ferrate to enhance the degradation of selected contaminants. In this work, it was found that heterogeneous carbon nanotube (CNT) could accelerate ferrate (Fe(VI)) for the degradation of bromophenols (BrPs) of environmental concerns and alleviate the appearance of undesired by-products in effluent. Fe(VI) could react with BrPs over a wide pH range of 6-10 with apparent second-order rate constants of 1.8-1850 M^-1 s^-1. Electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ESI-QqQMS) analysis showed that dibrominated dihydroxylated biphenyls and dibrominated phenoxyphenols were possibly formed via coupling reaction of BrPs radicals generated from Fe(VI) oxidation through one-electron transfer. The presence of CNT could remarkably accelerate the degradation rates of BrPs by Fe(VI) in a wide pH range from 7 to 10. Moreover, the formed undesired polybrominated products during Fe(VI)/CNT oxidation were absorbed on CNT surface and thus removed from treated water. The Fe(VI)/CNT system was capable of selectively oxidizing electron-rich pollutants (e.g., BrPs, and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)), but reluctant to iopamidol (IPM) and nitrobenzene (NB). High-valent metal-oxo intermediates Fe(V)/Fe(IV) formed in situ from the reaction of CNT with Fe(VI) were likely responsible for this activation effect of CNT, which was further confirmed via using methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) as a probe compound. Comparatively, homogeneous reducing agent Na₂S₂O₃ could enhance Fe(VI) degradation of BrPs at pH 7 and 8, while undesired polybrominated products were detected in effluent from Fe(VI)/Na₂S₂O₃ system. These findings have crucial implications for the development of a promising oxidation process by combination of Fe(VI) and CNT for water and wastewater treatment.

Enhanced catalytic ozonation by highly dispersed CeO2 on carbon nanotubes for mineralization of organic pollutants

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation, in which ozone is activated by various catalysts to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), is an effective approach to degrade persistent organic pollutants in water. However, catalyst with high activity and good stability for catalytic ozonation still remains rare. In this work, a highly dispersed cerium oxide on oxidized carbon nanotubes (CeO₂-OCNT) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and temperature-programmed reduction using hydrogen (TPR-H₂) experiments. The as-synthesized CeO₂-OCNT showed significantly enhanced catalytic performance for degrading organic pollutants during catalytic ozonation. The removal efficiency of optimized CeO₂-OCNT for phenol mineralization was 2-3 times of pure CeO₂ and OCNT, and was also better than that of a composite with the same composition, which demonstrated a synergic effect between OCNT and CeO₂ on CeO₂-OCNT for catalytic ozonation. The TOC removal efficiency exhibited no obvious reduction after five cycling experiments, indicating the synthesized CeO₂-OCNT possessed good reusability. Moreover, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and radicals quenching experiments revealed that hydroxyl radicals (OH) were the dominant ROS for organic pollutants degradation. The superior activity of CeO₂-OCNT for catalytic ozonation could be attributed to the well-dispersed CeO₂, the improved mass transfer, and the facilitated redox Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ cycling.

Evaluation of Enhanced Ozone-Biologically Active Filtration Treatment for the Removal of 1,4-Dioxane and Disinfection Byproduct Precursors from Wastewater Effluent

Ozonation followed by biologically active filtration (BAF) (O₃-BAF) treatment has become an alternative to reverse osmosis in potable wastewater reuse applications because of the ability to produce a high-quality effluent while reducing brine production and disposal. In this study, effluent from a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor (SBMBR) was treated by O₃-BAF at three specific ozone doses (0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mg O₃/mg DOC) and different empty bed contact times (EBCTs; 15-45 min). The reaction of O₃ with granular activated carbon (GAC) (O₃/GAC) to promote the formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) was evaluated at 1.0 mg O₃/mg DOC followed by BAF at 15-45 min EBCT. The efficacy of these techniques was compared for the removal of O₃ refractory 1,4-dioxane and the reduction in the formation of bromate, 35 regulated and unregulated halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and 8 N-nitrosamines after chloramination. Conventional ozonation (without the presence of GAC during ozonation) removed 6-11% of 1,4-dioxane, while BAF increased the removal to ∼25%. O₃/GAC improved the removal of 1,4-dioxane to ∼40%, while BAF increased the removal to ∼50%. No bromate was detected during conventional ozonation. Although O₃/GAC formed 12.5 μg/L bromate, this concentration was reduced during BAF treatment to <6.8 μg/L. Even though conventional ozonation was more effective than O₃/GAC for the reduction in chloramine-reactive N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursors, BAF treatment after either conventional or enhanced ozonation reduced NDMA formation during chloramination to <10 ng/L. O₃/GAC was more effective at reducing halogenated DBP formation during postchloramination. Regardless, the reduction in halogenated DBP formation during postchloramination achieved by BAF treatment was ∼90% relative to the formation in the SBMBR effluent after either conventional or enhanced ozonation. The reduction of haloacetic acid (HAA) formation improved moderately with increasing BAF EBCT. Both O₃-BAF and (O₃/GAC)-BAF met regulatory levels for trihalomethanes, HAAs, NDMA, and bromate.

Ozonation of aqueous phenol catalyzed by biochar produced from sludge obtained in the treatment of coking wastewater

Sludge collected from industrial wastewater treatment possesses a threatening effect on environment, and changing it into functional material provides an alternative for its disposal. Biochar synthesized by pyrolysis of sludge obtained from coking wastewater treatment was evaluated for the catalytic ozonation of phenol in aqueous solution. The present work focused on testing the catalytic performance of biochar, deducing the kinetics of phenol removal in various reaction conditions, and finally elucidating the mechanism of biochar-enhanced phenol removal. The results demonstrated that biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures of 700 and 900 °C revealed highly comparable catalytic activity in phenol ozonation, leading to around 95% phenol removal within 30 min reaction, due to the abundant carbonyl groups on biochar surface. The biochar, however, was suffered from poor stability, which was attributed to biochar loss and changes in surface chemistry. On the basis of examining reaction variables, an empirical kinetic model was developed well matching experimental results. It was found that ozone concentration adsorbed on biochar surface was first increased with a peak (3.8 mg/L for biochar obtained at 700 °C) at reaction time 10 min, after which it decreased along with proceeding reaction. In light of radical scavenging test, superoxide radical (O₂-) was identified as main radical species produced from the interaction of ozone with biochar surface, while hydroxyl radical (OH) played negligible role in biochar catalytic ozonation. The promoting mechanism of bicarbonate on phenol ozonation was verified to be the generation of O₂- via series reactions of HCO₃- with OH and ozone, apart from increase in solution pH. These results provide important implications for future recycling of coking wastewater treatment sludge in environmental remediation.

Catalytic Ozonation in Arrayed Zinc Oxide Nanotubes as Highly Efficient Mini-Column Catalyst Reactors (MCRs): Augmentation of Hydroxyl Radical Exposure

Reactor design is significant to catalytic ozonation for an efficient mass transfer and exposure of the powerful but short-lived hydroxyl radicals (HO•). Herein, five groups of zinc oxide nanotube arrays with pore sizes from 168 to 10 nm were produced as mini-column catalyst reactors (MCRs) for internal catalytic ozonation, whose performance was comparatively studied on the kinetics of ozone transfer, consumption, and radical probe interaction. Using an R_CT value describing HO• exposure, all the MCRs with sufficient ozone transfer featured an R_CT level of at least 3.2 × 10^-6, which is substantially higher than most values in referenced works (10^-9∼10^-6) and that for microscale reactors in our work (∼10^-8). Furthermore, the HO• exposure dramatically increased with diminishing pore size, causing an elevated R_CT up to 8.0 × 10^-5 for the smallest MCR with 10 nm pore. The interphase formed in this flow-through system might have enriched HO• radicals produced via surface, and for a smaller MCR, the effect would be greater with a more confined microfluidic region. Investigations on electron paramagnetic resonance and the treatment of ozone-recalcitrant organics corroborated the nanoscale effect of MCR on augmentation of HO• exposure. This study offers a new way to design nanotube reactors for internal HO•-based heterogeneous catalysis.

Kinetic evaluation of graphene oxide based heterogenous catalytic ozonation for the removal of ibuprofen

In this study, the performance of graphene oxide (GO) in ozonation process was kinetically evaluated using the modified R_ct concept since GO may act as initiator, promoter and inhibitor in ozone radical chain reaction. The applicability of the modified R_ct concept was demonstrated using different GO suspensions (GO alone, GO/TiO₂, GO/Fe₃O₄, GO/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄) in ozonation process. Results showed that ozone exposure and •OH exposure were found to be higher for GO/Fe₃O₄ and GO/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ compared to other GO suspensions, which was almost equivalent to O₃/H₂O₂ process. The determined initiation and inhibition rate constants of GO alone, were 1 fold higher than GO/Fe₃O₄ and GO/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄, since the GO alone suspension possesses higher O₃ decomposition but lower organic degradation because that GO does not yield •OH. Moreover, GO/Fe₃O₄ suspension, along with natural organic matter (NOM), was proven to be helpful in degrading ibuprofen in ozonation process, but the effect was minimal when compared to O₃/H₂O₂ process. These results exhibited that the surface modified GO suspensions could be utilized as future alternative AOPs.

A tin(iv) oxides/carbon nanotubes composite with core-tubule structure as an anode material for high electrochemistry performance LIBs

SnO2/CNTs composites with core-tubule structure are prepared by a facile wet chemical method. The investigation of electrochemical characteristics of the SnO2/CNTs composites shows that the composites exhibit some advantages, such as stable core-tubule structure, small particle size of SnO2, low electron-transfer resistance and faster lithium ion migration speed. The final product synthesized under optimized conditions can release a stable capacity of about 743 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at the current density of 0.4 A g-1, 598 mA h g-1 after 500 cycles at the current density of 4 A g-1. Even at a super high current density of 8 A g-1, the composite can still deliver a steady capacity of 457 mA h g-1, and the discharge capacity can be restored to 998 mA h g-1 when current density is decreased to 0.4 A g-1.

Minimizing Freshwater Consumption in the Wash-Off Step in Textile Reactive Dyeing by Catalytic Ozonation with Carbon Aerogel Hosted Bimetallic Catalyst

In textile reactive dyeing, dyed fabrics have to be rinsed in the wash-off step several times to improve colorfastness. Thus, the multiple rinsing processes drastically increase the freshwater consumption and meanwhile generate massive waste rinsing effluents. This paper addresses an innovative alternative to recycle the waste effluents to minimize freshwater consumption in the wash-off step. Accordingly, catalytic ozonation with a highly effective catalyst has been applied to remedy the waste rinsing effluents for recycling. The carbon aerogel (CA) hosted bimetallic hybrid material (Ag⁻Fe₂O₃@CA) was fabricated and used as the catalyst in the degradation of residual dyes in the waste rinsing effluents by ozonation treatments. The results indicate the participation of Ag⁻Fe₂O₃@CA had strikingly enhanced the removal percentage of chemical oxidation demand by 30%. In addition, it has been validated that waste effluents had been successfully reclaimed after catalytic ozonation with Ag⁻Fe₂O₃@CA. They could be additionally reused to reduce freshwater consumption in the wash-off step, but without sacrificing the color quality of corresponding fabrics in terms of color difference and colorfastness. This study may be the first to report the feasibility of catalytic ozonation in minimization of freshwater consumption in the wash-off step in textile reactive dyeing.