Nanometer CeO2 doped high silica ZSM-5 heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of sulfamethoxazole in water

Highlights: • Novel nanometer cerium-doped high silica ZSM-5 (CeO₂@HSZSM-5) was synthesized. • Acid sites and oxygen vacancies were introduced in catalyst surface to activate O₃. • Two times of SMX mineralization efficiency compared with ozone alone was obtained. • CeO₂@HSZSM-5 increased ozone utilization efficiency by 38–54%. A novel CeO₂ doped high silica ZSM-5(CeO₂@HSZSM-5) composite was originally fabricated via ammonia precipitation for the catalytic ozonation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Physicochemical properties have been investigated through electron microscope, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, etc. The prepared nanometer CeO₂@HSZSM-5 had a much higher specific surface (348–395 m²/g), a finer crystallite size (8.2–33.5 nm) and superior stability. Temperature-programmed desorption and reduction analysis revealed that the formed CeO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of CeO₂@HSZSM-5 could improve the reducibility of surface-capping oxygen, induce more oxygen vacancies and promote oxygen migration. CeO₂@HSZSM-5 exhibited excellent catalytic performance for SMX mineralization in the pH range of environmental waters. The great enhancement of CeO₂@HSZSM-5 catalytic activity was ascribed to the conversion of O₃ into active oxygen involved in SMX mineralization, including ^.OH, O₂^.– and ¹O₂. This work provides a reference for the removal of pollutants by zeolite supported Ce catalytic ozonation process in water.