Catalytic Ozonation of Volatile Organic Compounds: Reaction Mechanisms, Catalyst Design, and Characterization

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose a serious threat to ecosystems and human health due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. Among various remediation strategies, catalytic ozonation has recently gained increasing attention owing to its high oxidation efficiency, mild operating conditions, and environmental compatibility. This review first summarizes the three mechanisms of catalytic ozonation, emphasizing catalyst‐driven ozone (O3) activation and deep oxidation pathways. It then highlights recent progress in catalyst design, including noble metal‐based, manganese‐based, spinel, and single‐atom catalysts. Particular attention is given to structure–function relationships, especially the roles of oxygen vacancies (Ov) and Lewis acid sites in regulating O3 decomposition, VOCs activation, and resistance to deactivation. Next, the effects of external factors such as temperature, humidity, and types of VOCs on activity, mineralization, and O3 utilization are discussed. Advanced characterization techniques for identifying active sites and revealing reaction pathways are also reviewed. Overall, practical low‐temperature catalytic ozonation requires efficient O3 activation, rapid oxidation toward CO2, and high O3 utilization. Simultaneously, the process requires utilizing durable catalysts and minimize the accumulation of intermediates. These insights are expected to guide the development of efficient, durable, and low‐temperature catalytic ozonation technologies for VOCs abatement.