ELIMINACIóN DE COLORANTES CATIóNICOS USANDO OZONO, ZEOLITA NATURAL Y OZONO/ZEOLITA

this paper compares experimental results on methylene blue (mb) removal systems based on ozone oxidation, zeolite adsorption, and simultaneous adsorption-oxidation using ozone in the presence of natural zeolite. the effect of ph (2-8), and the presence of radical scavengers (sodium acetate) on process rates and removal efficiencies are assessed at laboratory scale. the experimental system consisted of a 1l differential circular flow reactor and an ozone generator rated at 5 g o3/h. results show that ozone oxidation combined with zeolite adsorption increases the overall mb oxidation rate with respect to ozonation process and zeolite adsorption. in presence of free radical scavenger, only a 25% of reduction on mb removal rate are observed in the simultaneous treatment, as compared with 70 % when ozonation treatment is used, suggesting that mb oxidation reactions take mainly place on the zeolite surface.