Analysis of the catalytic mechanism and product characteristics of ozone decomposition catalysts

1. Catalytic mechanism of ozone decomposition catalyst
The core function of ozone decomposition catalyst is to accelerate the chemical reaction rate of converting ozone (O₃) into oxygen (O₂), and its mechanism can be summarized as the following key steps:
Physical adsorption and surface enrichment
The porous structure and high specific surface area of the catalyst provide adsorption sites for ozone molecules, and ozone is enriched on the catalyst surface through physical adsorption, increasing the contact opportunities of active sites. This process lays the foundation for subsequent catalytic reactions.
Ozone activation and free radical generation
The active components on the catalyst surface (such as transition metal oxides) can reduce the activation energy of ozone decomposition and promote its decomposition into highly active oxygen species (such as hydroxyl radicals·OH, superoxide radicals·O₂⁻). The oxidation potential of such free radicals (such as·OH up to 2.8 V) is significantly higher than that of ozone itself (2.07 V), thereby enhancing the oxidation ability of pollutants.
Free radical chain reaction
The generated free radicals further react with ozone or pollutant molecules to form a chain cycle. For example, ·OH can attack unsaturated bonds in organic matter, degrading them into small molecules (such as CO₂, H₂O), while regenerating new free radicals to achieve continuous oxidation.
Heterogeneous catalysis and selective regulation
Compared with homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysts (such as supported metal oxides) are easier to separate and recover due to their solid phase characteristics. Their selectivity stems from the regulation of specific reaction pathways by active components. For example, iron oxides preferentially catalyze ozone decomposition rather than side reactions, avoiding the generation of harmful byproducts.
2. Core characteristics of ozone decomposition catalysts
Based on their catalytic mechanism, ozone decomposition catalysts have the following significant advantages:
High efficiency and economy
The catalyst significantly reduces the treatment cost by improving the ozone utilization rate (saving more than 30% of the dosage) and reaction rate (efficiency increased by 30%-60%). Its porous structure and active component design further optimize the mass transfer efficiency and shorten the treatment cycle.
Environmental protection and recycling capability
The reaction process only generates oxygen and water, without secondary pollution; the catalyst can be reused after simple cleaning or high-temperature regeneration (such as 240°C heat treatment), reducing resource consumption.
Stability and adaptability
The catalyst prepared by high-temperature sintering technology has excellent chemical stability and can maintain activity for a long time in complex environments (such as high humidity, acid-base conditions). It is suitable for a variety of scenarios, including industrial waste gas treatment, indoor air purification and high-concentration organic wastewater treatment.
Selective oxidation and broad-spectrum applicability
The catalyst can decompose ozone or specific pollutants (such as VOCs) in a targeted manner to avoid ineffective reactions. At the same time, it has a broad-spectrum degradation ability for difficult-to-degrade organic matter (such as dyes in printing and dyeing wastewater, antibiotics in pharmaceutical wastewater).
3. Technical application and future prospects
Ozone decomposition catalysts have been applied on a large scale in environmental governance, such as chemical waste gas purification and groundwater remediation. Future research directions include the development of low-cost composite catalysts (such as doping with rare earth elements), improving anti-poisoning capabilities, and coupling other technologies (such as photocatalysis and membrane separation) to build a synergistic treatment system