Ozone Decomposition over Cobalt Supported on Olive Stones Activated Carbon: Effect of Preparation Method on Catalyst Activity

Aqueous ozone decomposition was studied over highly dispersed cobalt nanoparticles supported on olive stones activated carbon (AC) prepared by: wetness impregnation (Co/AC(w)) and incipient wetness impregnation (Co/AC(iw)) with respect to pore volume. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77K, SEM, XRD and XPS analyses were used to characterize the catalysts. Analyses results show that Co/AC(w) was more uniformly dispersed on the AC than Co/AC(iw). The effect of the presence of tert-butanol as radical scavenger was also studied. Higher catalytic activity was measured for Co/AC(w) than Co/AC(iw). Ozone decomposition extent goes to 99% in only 3min in the presence of Co/AC(w) compared to 60% and 58% using Co/AC(iw) catalyst and AC, respectively.