Sunlight catalyzed ozone oxidation of volatile organic chemicals

Abstract

Experiments evaluating the oxidation of 3 VOCs; tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and 1,2, dichloroethane (DCA); in the presence and absence of catalysts UV light and sunlight, at three nominally applied ozone concentrations; high (8.8 mg/l), medium (5.5 mg/l), and low (3.3 mg/l); have demonstrated that the degree of compound removal is dependent on the type of compound. PCE degradation was mainly photolytic, TCE destruction was more dependent on ozone dose, and DCE was the most refractory of the 3 compounds tested. Ozone dose and catalyst type and concentration were also significant, in terms of compound removal. Additional data have shown that the decomposition of dissolved ozone was accelerated in the presence of sunlight over dissolved ozone in the dark, implying that solar catalyzed ozone decomposition would lead to a larger net free radical production over non-catalyzed reactions.