PARUL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF JOURNAL PAPER

This activity is an individual activity. Each student has to refer FIVE research papers related to their
project title and each paper is to be reviewed as per below. Student need to
prepare word file for each paper evaluation and submit it.

Student Details:
Student Name: Aditya Mall
Enrollment Branch:Btech chemical e
No:200305103022
Title of Journal Paper: Enhanced Ozonation Degradation of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater in the
Presence of Oxide Nanocatalysts
Authors: V. Z. Baldissarelli
Gidiane Scaratti Suélen
Amorim Regina de
Fátima Peralta Muniz
Moreira

Journal/Conference:
Volume/Issue: Pages:

Dissection of Paper:

Section 01: Abstract / Introduction (Read the abstract and answer the following questions)
1 What is the objective of the Paper?
The objective of the article is to investigate the use of oxide nanocatalysts in enhancing the
ozonation degradation of petroleum refinery wastewater .

2 What are the main results mentioned in the abstract?

The main results mentioned in the abstract are:

1. The use of oxide nanocatalysts in the ozonation degradation of petroleum refinery wastewater
significantly improves the organic matter reduction compared to using ozone alone.
2. The article examines the catalytic activity of different oxide nanoparticles in treating a synthetic
petroleum refinery wastewater using ozone in a discontinuous reactor.
3. The effect of initial pH and varying the dosage of the Mn2O3 catalyst on the treatment process
is evaluated.
The results show a significant improvement in the organic matter reduction with the use of oxide
nanocatalysts in the ozonation process compared to using ozone alone.

3 What rational is given by the authors, attributing importance to the research problem?
Environmental pollution by Petroleum refinery wastewater raises vital call for attention to scientist
and industrialists due to its impact on human and eco-system.

4 How many earlier works are cited by the authors, and what are the perceived drawbacks of
these earlier works?
This research has attached 12 citations
Section 02: Methodology
1. Describe the methodology is used by author(s) to address the research problem?
The methodology involved several steps:

1. Preparation of synthetic petroleum refinery wastewater (SPRW): The SPRW was prepared using
benzoic acid and amino benzoic acid as the organic carbon sources, along with various inorganic
 salts simulating those present in refinery wastewaters. The pH of the solution was adjusted, and
the initial COD and TOC concentrations were determined .

2. Characterization of catalysts: The specific surface area of the catalysts (Mn2O3, FeOOH, and
CeO2) was determined using a BET surface area analyzer. The morphology of the catalysts was
examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were also
performed .

3. SPRW treatment by catalytic and non-catalytic ozonation: The effect of initial pH on the SPRW
treatment was studied by varying the pH levels and conducting catalytic ozonation experiments
using Mn2O3. The impact of the Mn2O3 dosage was also evaluated at pH 5.5. The degradation of
SPRW was monitored by measuring parameters such as pH, TOC, and COD.

4. Data analysis: The obtained experimental results were analyzed to determine the TOC and COD
decay rates for the catalytic and non-catalytic degradation of SPRW

2. In what way the methodology used by the authors is relevant to the methodology you
proposed to adopt?
The author's methodology is highly relevant to us because, as we create our sample paper, we'll
need to conduct various validation assessments to ensure the quality and reliability of our
research. Their approach provides valuable guidance for this essential aspect of our work, helping
us navigate potential challenges and ensure the validity of our findings.

Section 03: Results and conclusions

1. What are the variables used for the analysis
The variables used for analysis in the article are:
Initial pH
Catalyst dosage

2. List the results obtained by the authors.

The point of zero charge (PZC) of the catalysts was also measured, with goethite having a lower
PZC than the pH of the SPRW, indicating a negative surface charge, while Mn2O3 and CeO2 had
almost the same PZC and slightly positive net charge at pH 5.5 . The XRD patterns confirmed the
presence of pure Mn2O3 catalyst without impurities . SEM and TEM analysis revealed the
presence of nanometric particles in the catalysts . XPS analysis showed a high percentage of
oxygen in all samples
3. What are the conclusions drawn by the authors from the study.
The conclusions obtained by the authors are that the use of oxide nanocatalysts, specifically
Mn2O3, FeOOH, and CeO2, in the ozonation degradation process of petroleum refinery
wastewater significantly enhances the removal of organic pollutants under acidic conditions . The
catalytic effect of Mn2O3 on the ozonation process is attributed to the adsorption of ozone
followed by catalytic decomposition on the solid surface, leading to the degradation of organic
pollutants . The amount of hydroxyl groups and chemisorbed water on the solid surface are
important factors in the catalytic effect, with the ratio between mineralization and chemical
oxidation rates approaching 1 as the pH decreases or the catalyst dosage increases . Overall, the
use of oxide nanocatalysts in the ozonation process shows promise for effective treatment of
petroleum refinery wastewater and the reduction of organic matter

Write a critical analysis of the paper (about 200 words)

[Critical Analysis shall contain introduction to the topic, aim, methodology, key findings and important
conclusions]

write a summury on this abtract in about 200 words

This article discusses the use of oxide nanocatalysts in the ozonation degradation of petroleum refinery
wastewater. The wastewater from petroleum refineries contains various organic and inorganic pollutants
that can harm the environment. While ozone treatment is a viable option for removing these pollutants, it is
often challenging to completely eliminate high chemical oxygen demand (COD) or total organic carbon
(TOC) content using ozone alone due to its low solubility in water and short lifetime. The article explores
the catalytic activity of different oxide nanoparticles, including Mn2O3, FeOOH, and CeO2, in treating a
synthetic petroleum refinery wastewater (SPRW) with ozone in a discontinuous reactor. The SPRW
simulates the salts present in refinery wastewaters and contains benzoic acid and amino benzoic acid as
the organic carbon source. The study investigates the effect of factors like initial pH and catalyst dosage
on the treatment process. The results demonstrate the significant improvement in organic matter reduction
achieved by using oxide nanocatalysts in the ozonation process compared to ozone alone . In summary,
the study highlights the potential of oxide nanocatalysts to enhance the efficiency of ozone treatment in the
degradation of organic pollutants in petroleum refinery wastewater.