Mechanistic study of ozonation of p-nitrophenol in aqueous solution

Ozonlysis in the treatment of p-nitrophenol solution was studied in this paper. The results indicated that the decomposition of p-nitrophenol was accelerated as the gas flow rate or pH value increased. When gaseous ozone concentration was 20.11 mg/L and pH was 3, after 24 min reaction, the removal rate of p-nitrophenol reached 73.04%, 86.11%, 91.71% and 95% at the gas flow rate of 32, 40, 48 and 56 ml/min respectively. And when pH was 3, 4, 5, 6, the decomposition rate was 66.38%, 82.09%, 90.46%, 97.50% after a 20 min reaction respectively. It was mainly O3 molecule that took part in the decomposition when pH was 3. The main intermediates during the decomposition include catechol, o-benzoquinone, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, phenol, fumaric acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid and formic acid. The decomposition mechanism of p-nitrophenol was also discussed.