Characterization of Gaseous Ozone Decomposition in Soil

Laboratory scale batch experiments were performed to investigate the decomposition characteristics of gaseous ozone in porous media. The decomposition rates of gaseous ozone in several solid media were determined, and the relationship of moisture content with sorbed ozone molecules was evaluated. Ozone decomposition in control and glass beads packed columns followed second-order reaction kinetics, while ozone consumption in a sand-packed column demonstrated first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.0109 min^?1 and half-life of 1.0 h. The presence of typical metal oxides in the soil resulted in ozone consumption rates in the following order: hematite (Fe₂O₃) > silica-alumina (SiO₂Al₂O₃) > alumina (Al₂O₃) > silica (SiO₂). Ozone decomposition was highly dependent upon soil moisture content. Over 90% of the total ozone mass decomposed in the field soil with moisture content at less than 1 wt%, whereas as low as 5–15% of the total ozone mass degraded with moisture content at more than 2 wt%. In conclusion, ozone decomposition in soils was primarily controlled not only by soil organic matter but also by reactive metal oxides on the soil surface. These two factors were shown to be highly dependent upon soil moisture content.