Catalytic ozonation of N-methyldiethanolamine over mixed oxides derived from Mg/Fe-LDH.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of catalytic ozonation to increase the degradation of aqueous N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) solutions, using two lamellar double hydroxides, namely MgxFe-LDH with x = Mg/Fe = 2, 3, were synthesized by the simple and rapid co-precipitation method. Then, the obtained materials were calcined at 400 °C for 6 h. The calcined products were respectively designated as HTcMg2Fe and HTcMg3Fe, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The powders produced were used in the ozonation reaction to remove MDEA from aqueous solutions. Experimental results showed that the highest MDEA removal efficiency is in the catalytic ozonation process. Under the optimal conditions for heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of MDEA: initial concentration of 4 Wt% MDEA, 30 °C, catalyst mass of 30 mg/100 ml solution, and contact time of 60 min. The results showed the highest percentage of COD removal, which was up to 80.76% for HTcMg2Fe higher than that of HTcMg3Fe 80.36%.

Clay-Catalyzed Ozonation of Hydrotalcite-Extracted Lactic Acid Potential Application for Preventing Milk Fermentation Inhibition.

An unprecedented route for mitigating the inhibitory effect of lactic acid (LA) on milk fermentation was achieved through lactate adsorption on hydrotalcite (Ht) from simulated lactate extracts. During its regeneration by ozonation, Ht displayed catalytic activity that appeared to increase by addition of montmorillonite (Mt). Changes in the pH, Zeta potential and catalyst particle size during LA ozonation were found to strongly influence LA-LA, LA-catalyst and catalyst-catalyst interactions. The latter determine lactate protonation-deprotonation and clay dispersion in aqueous media. The activity of Mt appears to involve hydrophobic adsorption of non-dissociated LA molecules on silica-rich areas at low pH, and Lewis acid-base and electrostatic interactions at higher pH than the pKa. Hydrotalcite promotes both hydrophobic interaction and anion exchange. Hydrotalcite-smectite mixture was found to enhance clay dispersion and catalytic activity. This research allowed demonstrating that natural clay minerals can act both as adsorbents for LA extract from fermentation broths and as catalysts for adsorbent regeneration. The results obtained herein provide valuable and useful findings for envisaging seed-free milk clotting in dairy technologies.