Ozone-Assisted Swelling-Fixation of Sulfur-Containing VOCs: A Room-Temperature Strategy for High-Capacity Sulfur Fixation

Abstract

Malodorous sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) pose severe environmental and health risks, while existing physical or chemical abatement technologies suffer from low efficiency and poor economic viability. Herein, a low concentration ozone-assisted swelling-fixation of SVOCs (OSS) strategy is proposed using YMn2O5 mullite as a sulfur-fixing material, with CH3SH as a model pollutant. A sulfur fixation capacity of 1344.2 wt % (13.4× the YMO mass) is achieved and validated in a prototype device. Combined experimental characterizations and theoretical simulations reveal that ozone-derived reactive oxygen species synergize with Mn–Mn dimers, enable the thermodynamically and kinetically favorable conversion of CH3SH into liquid CH3SO2SCH3 and solid Mn(CH3SO3)2/SO42– products. The accumulation of these products builds a swollen surface layer on YMn2O5 that remains reactive toward CH3SH/O3 and allows continued sulfur fixation. Life-cycle assessment reveals a favorable trend in reducing carbon emissions, pollutant emissions, and eco-costs compared with conventional adsorption and oxidation routes. This room-temperature strategy enables scalable and sustainable SVOCs abatement, odor control, and sulfur resource fixation.