Effect of the ozone–carbon reaction on the catalytic activity of activated carbon during the degradation of 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulphonic acid with ozone Original Research Article

The present work investigated the evolution of catalytic activity of activated carbon in 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulphonic acid (NTS) ozonation in aqueous phase. Activated carbons pre-treated with ozone showed a reduction in NTS oxidation rate and efficacy of TOC removal that increased with ozone exposure time. The ozone treatment increased the number of surface oxygenated (electron-withdrawing) groups on the carbon, therefore reducing its basic character and its reductive properties. This effect reduced the reactivity of the activated carbon to ozone and, therefore, the extent of the ozone decomposition into highly oxidative species.