Ce-V loaded metal oxides as catalysts for dechlorination of chloronitrophenol by ozone

We report the catalytic degradation of chloronitrophenol (CNP) facilitated by ozone using cerium-vanadium oxide loaded on metal oxides supports alumina and silica as catalysts. The catalyzed ozonation markedly accelerated the degradation of CNP. Catalyst materials were synthesized and characterized by using various surface characterization techniques including XRD, BET, TPD, ICP, SEM, TEM and FT-IR. The influences of hydroxyl radical scavengers, pH values, and reaction products on degradation were investigated. Alkaline pH facilitated and accelerated the generation of hydroxyl radicals by the heterogeneous catalyst. The oxidation products formed in the reaction were characterized by H-1 NMR and LC-MS mass spectral data. 3,4-Dihydroxyhexa-2,4-dienedioic acid (DDA),2-hydroxymaleic acid (HMA) and oxalic acid (OA) were the main oxidation products. 5% Ce-V/SiO2 proved to be economical and feasible choice for catalytic ozonation and dechlorination of CNP in water. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.