Modulation of Oxygen Vacancies and Surface Acidity in MnxCeyO Catalysts via Microemulsion Enhances the Catalytic Ozonation of p-xylene
摘要
P-xylene (PX), a compound with high photochemical activity, is widely used in the production of polyester fibers, resins, paints, dyes, and pesticides. Catalytic ozonation technology effectively degrades PX at low temperatures. The oxygen vacancy density and surface acidity of MnxCeyO catalysts were modulated using a microemulsion method. The results revealed that the structural defects formed in the Mn/Ce composite oxides enhanced the oxygen vacancies on the catalysts. By adjusting the Mn/Ce molar ratio and the W/O (water/oil) mass ratio in the microemulsion, MnxCeyO catalysts enriched with oxygen vacancies and surface acidic sites were obtained. The optimal microemulsion conditions were identified as a Mn/Ce molar ratio of 1 and a W/O mass ratio of 0.2. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance, achieving p-xylene (PX) conversion and mineralization rates of approximately 100% and 72%, respectively. The proposed mechanism of catalytic ozonation suggests that the benzene ring of PX was broken by O3 activated on the catalyst, and the produced intermediate gradually demethylated to form a series of chain alkanes, which were oxidized to ketones and aldehydes compounds and finally decomposed to CO2 and H2O.