Catalytic Ozonation of Herbicide 2,4-D over Cobalt Oxide Supported on Mesoporous Zirconia

Cobalt oxide was supported on ordered mesoporous zirconia (MZ) by wet impregnation, drying, water washing, and calcinations with cobalt acetate tetrahydrate as the metal precursor for the first time. The material (CoO x /MZIW) was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, and UV−vis diffuse reflectance spectra measurement. The studies showed that the [Co(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ interacted strongly with surface hydroxyls of mesoporous zirconia, leading to a highly dispersed CoO x layer. The CoO x existed mainly as Co 3 O 4 phase. Furthermore, the catalyst was found to be highly effective for the mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) aqueous solution with ozone. The multivalence oxidation states and high dispersion of CoO x enhanced the interfacial electron transfer, causing the higher catalytic reactivity. On the basis of all information obtained under different experimental conditions, CoO x /MZIW enhanced the mineralization of 2,4-D by the formation of the hydroxyl radical ( • OH) resulting from the catalytic decomposition of ozone.