Kinetics of Activated Carbon Promoted Ozonation of Succinic Acid in Water

The ozonation of succinic acid in water has been carried out in the presence of four different activated carbons. The influence of some variables, carbon type, particle size, gas flow rate, agitation speed, etc., has been studied for kinetic purposes. Succinic acid has been observed to be a promoter of ozone decomposition in water. Reactivity of ozone with succinic acid is significantly increased in the presence of activated carbon, regardless of its nature, although basic activated carbons present the highest activity. Also, the presence of activated carbon allows the highest mineralization rates. Mass transfer and chemical reactions (bulk water and surface reactions) have been considered for the kinetic study and rate constants of both reactions have been determined at different temperatures. Linear correlations have been obtained between surface reaction rate constants and the pHpzc of activated carbons.