Facile Preparation of ZnO Nanocatalysts for Ozonation of Phenol and Effects of Calcination Temperatures

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through a facile route and were used as ozonation catalysts. With the increase of calcination temperature ($150-300^{\circ}C$), surface hydroxyl groups and catalytic efficiency of asobtained ZnO decreased remarkably, and the ZnO obtained at $150^{\circ}C$ showed the best catalytic activity. Compared with ozonation alone, the degradation efficiency of phenol increased above 50% due to the catalysis of ZnO-150. In the reaction temperatures range from $5^{\circ}C$ to $35^{\circ}C$, ZnO nanocatalyst revealed remarkable catalytic properties, and the catalytic effect of ZnO was better at lower temperature. Through the effect of tertbutanol on degradation of phenol and the catalytic properties of ZnO on degradation of nitrobenzene, it was proposed that the degradation of phenol was ascribed to the direct oxidation by ozone molecules based on solidliquid interface reaction.