Sensitivity analysis of the catalytic ozonation under different kinetic modeling approaches in the diclofenac degradation

Abstract

Optimization and sensitivity analysis of the kinetic parameters of the catalytic ozonation process is crucial to improve water treatment, reactor design, and construction. This study evaluated the optimization of the kinetic constants for Diclofenac (DCF) degradation during catalytic ozonation with Goethite (FeOOH, as a catalyst) through different kinetic modeling approaches. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of ozone dose and catalyst loading. The results showed that FeOOH did not significantly influence the degradation of DCF, while the reactivity of DCF with ozone was high (with >90% degradations in 20 min). However, the variation in catalyst loading significantly affected TOC removal (>10%) and ozone use, with ozone efficiency in ozone transfer (RU) 5% higher than ozonation. After evaluating the different kinetic models of reaction speed by optimizing kinetic parameters and performing sensitivity analysis for the treatment of DCF by catalytic ozonation, it can be concluded that the addition of FeOOH improved the kinetics of the decomposition of ozone and the yield in the production of hydroxyl radicals.