Plasmon-enhanced catalytic ozonation for recalcitrant water pollutant removal

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to method of treating water/wastewater using a plasmon-enhanced catalytic ozonation process. Water/wastewater often contains numerous pollutants, some of which are particularly difficult and inefficient to remove and require energy-intensive treatment such as advanced oxidation processes. The present plasmonic metal nanostructured catalyst is configured to interact with electromagnetic radiation through excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance, leading to accelerated ozone decomposition and reactive species generation. The reactive species oxidizes water pollutants, resulting in a water treatment process that avoids excessive energy input and creation of toxic byproducts. In an exemplary application of the plasmon-enhanced catalytic ozonation process, the atrazine degradation rate is increased compared to conventional ozonation and catalytic ozonation processes, owing to the plasmonic effects of Ag in the plasmonic metal nanostructured catalyst.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.