Sustainable Ozonation Using Natural Zeolite-Based Catalysts for Petrochemical Wastewater Treatment

Yue Yuan, Fang Wang, Guoxin Ma (), Zhikai Qin, Hongbo Xi, Yin Yu and Changyong Wu ()
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Yue Yuan: Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Fang Wang: Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Guoxin Ma: Environmental Technology Engineering Co., Ltd., Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Zhikai Qin: Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Hongbo Xi: Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Yin Yu: Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Changyong Wu: Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: To promote sustainable wastewater treatment, this study developed an eco-friendly and low-cost ozone catalyst using natural zeolite for the advanced treatment of petrochemical wastewater. The Ca-Cu/zeolite catalyst (0.75 mol/kg Ca and 0.25 mol/kg Cu) demonstrated high efficiency in catalytic ozonation, achieving 55.52% TOC removal under optimized conditions (ozone dosage: 108.0 mg/(L·h), catalyst dosage: 406.0 g/L, reaction time: 90 min). Compared to ozonation alone, the catalyst enhanced oxidation rates by 10 times, promoting ozone decomposition into reactive oxygen species (e.g., OH and 1 O 2 ) while improving gas–liquid–solid mass transfer for efficient pollutant mineralization. Remarkably, the natural zeolite-based catalyst exhibited superior sustainability: compared to conventional alumina-based catalysts, its production cost (4000–4500 CNY/ton) is 44–53% lower, while its carbon footprint (533.7 kg CO 2 /ton) is reduced by 45.4%. This work presents a sustainable, low-carbon, and economically viable catalytic ozonation solution, contributing to the development of green and cost-effective industrial wastewater treatment technologies.

Keywords: catalytic ozonation; natural zeolite; petrochemical wastewater; sustainability; catalyst preparation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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