Catalytic ozonation of Acid Red B in aqueous solution over a Fe-Cu-O catalyst

The catalytic ozonation of Acid Red B (ARB) solution in the presence of Fe-Cu oxide (Fe-Cu-O) catalysts was investigated under different operating conditions. The effects of solution pH (3-11), ozone flow (3.6-30 mg/min) and initial ARB concentration (100-500 mg/L) on color and COD removal were evaluated. The optimum pH and ozone flow were determined to be 6.8 and 30 mg/min, respectively. In the presence of 1 g/L Fe-Cu-O powder, after 60 min, the color and the COD removal efficiency was 90% and 70%, while that of the single ozonation process was 66% and 48%, respectively. The repeated use of the catalyst proved that the Fe-Cu-O catalyst had a good reusability and stability. Finally, the possible mechanism of the catalytic ozonation of ARB was proposed, and the kinetics model of the color and COD degradation were established. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.