Catalytic activity and mechanism of fluorinated MgO film supported on 3D nickel mesh for ozonation of gaseous toluene

A nano-MgO film supported on 3D nickel mesh was prepared via an electrodeposition-thermolysis process. The film possessed high catalytic activity for the ozonation of toluene, but suffered from deactivation. Interestingly, after fluorination, its breakthrough time was 20 times longer ( i.e. , from 30 to 600 min) under 50% relative humidity. This significant enhancement was attributed to the formation of a fluorinated MgO film, Mg(OH)F, as confirmed using XRD, XPS, SEM, etc. Mg(OH)F possessed two typical acidic sites (Brønsted and Lewis sites), and they could co-catalyze O 3 to generate more highly active &z.rad;OH and O radicals. In particular, its Brønsted acidity could considerably decrease the accumulation of acidic intermediates on the film, suppressing its deactivation. Fluorinated MgO, Mg(OH)F, could be applied as a multifunctional ozonation catalyst for the degradation of other refractory pollutants. The fluorination of a MgO catalyst could suppress acid-caused catalytic deactivation and promote toluene degradation efficiency during catalytic ozonation.