How Does Ozone Oxidation Catalyst Remediate Groundwater?

Groundwater is an important freshwater resource, but it is often damaged by industrial wastewater discharge and agricultural non-point source pollution. Understanding the types of groundwater pollution, remediation pathways, and the working principle of ozone oxidation catalysts is crucial for protecting groundwater resources.

What are the main pollutants in groundwater?

Groundwater pollution is highly concealed and difficult to remediate. Common pollutants include:

Industrial organic matter: such as benzene, toluene, and chlorinated hydrocarbons, originating from leakage of wastewater from chemical and pharmaceutical industries;

Pesticide and fertilizer residues: pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers from agricultural areas pollute through soil infiltration;

Heavy metals: lead, chromium, mercury, etc., mostly originating from the leachate of waste residue from the smelting and electroplating industries.

These pollutants not only endanger drinking water safety but also accumulate through the food chain, threatening ecosystems and human health.

Common remediation pathways for groundwater pollution

Currently, mainstream remediation technologies include:

Pumping treatment: Surface purification after pumping, but this easily leads to a drop in the groundwater level;

Bioremediation: Utilizing microorganisms to degrade pollutants, with a long cycle (months to years);

Chemical oxidation: Directly oxidizing pollutants using oxidants (such as ozone), with ozone oxidation catalysts being a powerful synergist for this technology.

The Remediation Principle of Ozone Oxidation Catalysts

Ozone itself has oxidizing properties, but its efficiency in decomposing recalcitrant organic pollutants is limited. Ozone oxidation catalysts (such as porous materials supported on manganese and cobalt) can activate ozone, converting it into more potent hydroxyl radicals (・OH), which rapidly break down pollutant molecular chains—for example, decomposing benzene compounds into carbon dioxide and water, and converting chlorinated hydrocarbons into harmless chloride ions and small-molecule organic matter, thus achieving the "detoxification" of pollutants.

A chemical site had a groundwater benzene concentration of 120 mg/L due to historical wastewater discharge (far exceeding the national standard of 0.01 mg/L). After adopting the "ozone + catalyst" in-situ remediation technology:

The catalyst was filled into the permeable reaction wall of the contaminated area, and ozone was uniformly injected through gas distribution pipes;

After 30 days, the benzene concentration dropped to below 0.05 mg/L, with a removal rate of 99.96%;

Continuous monitoring for 6 months showed that the pollutant concentration remained stable and met the standards, with no rebound.

Ozone oxidation catalysts, with their advantages of high efficiency, rapid reaction, and no secondary pollution, have become one of the core technologies for the remediation of organic pollution in groundwater. Selecting a suitable catalyst can significantly improve remediation efficiency and provide strong support for groundwater resource protection.

Author: Hazel

Date: 2025-11-11