Efficient degradation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene using heterogeneous catalytic ozonation over metal loaded gamma alumina catalysts

This study investigated the catalytic potential of metal-loaded gamma alumina catalysts in the ozonation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB) under ambient reaction conditions. Different metal (Fe, Ni, and V) loaded gamma alumina catalysts were synthesized via wet impregnation technique and characterized using ICP-OES, FT-IR, BET, XRD, TEM, and SEM techniques. To identify the reaction products, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The ozonation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene was studied within a glass reactor, where each substrate was exposed to ozone for varying time durations between 3 and 24 h. The catalytic performance of a range of metal-loaded gamma-Al2O3 catalysts was assessed by examining their conversion and selectivity capabilities. During the oxidative degradation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 3,4-dichloro-2,5-furandione (DHF) and mucochloric acid (MCA) were identified as the ozonation products. Among the studied catalysts, 2.5 % Ni/gamma-Al2O3 exhibited outstanding catalytic activity towards the conversion of 1,2-dichlorobenzene yielding a significant 65 % conversion of 1,2-dichlorobenzene after 24 h of ozonation.