Catalytic Ozonation of Gasoline Compounds in Model and Natural Water in the Presence of Perfluorinated Alumina Bonded Phases

Gasoline compounds are one of the most widespread causes of soil and groundwater contamination. Their degradation in model and natural waters due to catalytic ozonation in the presence of perfluorooctylalumina (PFOA) is presented and discussed in this paper. The results obtained clearly indicate that the PFOA/O3 system is effective mainly for ether (MTBE and ETBE) removal from both model and natural water. The catalytic activity of PFOA is not so significant in the case of BTEX ozonation. An investigation into by-product formation has shown that the concentration of both carboxylic acids (mainly oxalic acid) and carbonyl compounds (mainly acetone) increases after catalytic ozonation when compared with ozonation alone. A decrease of formic acid and formaldehyde takes place after the PFOA/O3 system as opposed to the usage of ozonation alone.