Ceria-supported palladium as a highly active and selective catalyst for oxidative decomposition of ammonium ion in water with ozone

Abstract

Al2O3-supported precious metal catalysts were tested for the oxidative decomposition of NH4+ in water with O3 and the effects of support on the catalytic activity of Pd were investigated. Pd/CeO2 was found to be the best catalyst in terms of activity, selectivity and stability and was more active and selective than Co3O4, which is one of the best catalysts reported so far. The reaction proceeded only in the presence of Cl−. The moderate value of the d-band center relative to the Fermi level of Pd was found to be favorable for the activation of reactants, leading to a high catalytic performance.

Keywords

• Ozonation
• Ammonia nitrogen
• Palladium
• Ceria
• Wastewater treatment