Greener Catalytic Oxidation of Azole Fungicides: Coupling EO–O3 on BDD with Kinetics and Mineralization Targets

This study evaluates the abatement of four common azole fungicides—prochloraz, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, and penconazole—using ozonation (O3), electro-oxidation (EO on boron-doped diamond anode), and their coupling (EO–O3). A central composite design (CCD) with three coded factors—current (A), electrolyte (B), and ozone concentration in the gas phase (C)—was employed to model three responses: pollutant abatement (%), apparent pseudo-first-order rate constant k (min−1), and TOC removal (%). Quadratic models showed good in-samples (R2 ≈ 0.84–0.86). Ozone and current dominate abatement and kinetics (with curvature in current), while the electrolyte penalizes mineralization and narrows the window for TOC removal. Under optimal conditions, 116 mA (current), 0.992 mM (electrolyte), and 7.09 ppm (ozone concentration), the EO–O3 configuration results in a TOC removal of 33.78%. At a reaction time of 10 min (total abatement of the pollutants), the hybrid EO–O3 configuration exhibits a specific energy consumption (SEC) of 1.825 kWh·m−3. We compare trends with the last decade of literature on ozone-based EAOPs, electro-peroxone variants, and BDD anodic oxidation, and outline practical guidance for its application and scale-up, and model refinement in predictive settings.