An investigation of catalytic ozonation for the oxidation of halocarbons in drinking water preparation

This paper presents the results for the investigation of the potential of heterogeneous catalytic ozonation on the oxidation of aqueous halocarbon compounds. It was found that the presence of various oxides had a positive effect on the ozonation of various contaminants ranging from a simple organic acid molecule, oxalic acid, to aromatic halocarbons. No significant differences were found between pure aluminium oxide (alumina) and the transition metal oxide–alumina surfaces for oxalic acid oxidation. Both chlorinated aliphatic (chloroethanol) and chlorinated aromatic (chlorophenol) compounds degraded more rapidly in the presence of a heterogeneous surface. Chlorophenol was found to release approximately stoichiometric amounts of chlorine into solution, whereas chloroethanol did not.