Sonochemistry in environmental remediation. 1. Combinative and hybrid sonophotochemical oxidation processes for the treatment of pollutants in water

Ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of Fe2+

Ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization of styrene was carried out in the presence of Fe(2+). The addition of a small amount of Fe(2+) markedly enhanced the polymerization rate of styrene. In the presence of 50 microM Fe(2+), the conversion of monomer in the reaction time of 60 min was 2.4 times as high as that in the absence of Fe(2+). The increase in the polymerization rate was due to higher concentration of hydroxyl (*OH) radicals generated via Fenton reaction of Fe(2+) with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), which was proved by a lower amount of H(2)O(2) in Fe(2+) aqueous solution compared with that in pure water during ultrasonic irradiation. However, the addition of excessive Fe(2+) had no further accelerating effect on the polymerization rate due to the reduction of *OH radicals by Fe(2+). So it is an effective way to add an appropriate amount of Fe(2+) to accelerate ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization of styrene.

Treatment of wastewater streams containing phenolic compounds using hybrid techniques based on cavitation: a review of the current status and the way forward

Phenolic compounds, including its chloro and nitro derivatives, contribute significantly to environmental hazards due to high degree of toxicity as well as improper disposal methods. Cavitation can be used for degradation of phenolic compounds and recently Kidak and Ince [R. Kidak, N.H. Ince, Ultrason. Sonochem. 13 (2006) 195] have given an interesting review on the application of cavitation for destruction of phenolic compounds. A main finding of their work and generally accepted fact is that cavitation alone cannot be an economical technique for wastewater treatment. The present work overviews the different ways in which the cavitation phenomena can be intensified by using additives and/or combining cavitation with other oxidation processes. Hybrid methods viz. Ultrasound/H2O2 or ozone, cavitation assisted by use of catalysts/additives, sonophotocatalytic oxidation and cavitation coupled with biological oxidation have been discussed with specific reference to the principle behind the expected synergism, different reactor configurations used and optimum considerations for the operating and geometric parameters. Some of the important works evaluating the application of these processes for the destruction of phenolic compounds has been described in details. Some guidelines for the future work required to facilitate efficient large-scale operation have also been given.

Absorption kinetics of ozone in water with ultrasonic radiation

A mathematical model was proposed to depict classical unsteady state method that was used to determine volumetric mass transfer coefficient of ozone from gaseous phase to aqueous phase during sonolysis. The rate constant of ozone self-decomposition with ultrasonic radiation, which was one of the parameters in the model, was determined with separate experiments. The results showed that self-decomposition rate constants of ozone were enhanced by ultrasound. The self-decomposition rate constant of ozone is linearly dependent on ultrasonic power, but the increase of the decomposition rate could not enhance ozone mass transfer coefficient. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients of ozone were also enhanced by ultrasonic radiation, while ultrasonic power had little effect on volumetric mass transfer coefficient of ozone. The degassing effect of ozone due to ultrasonic radiation was insignificant in the sparged system when ozone was bubbled during sonolysis.

Ultrasonically induced degradation of 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin

2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GSM) are taste and odor compounds produced by cyanobacteria in surface waters. While the strong odors and musty flavors of MIB and GSM are generally associated with poor water quality, the removal of these semi-volatile compounds presents a significant challenge to drinking water providers. Likewise in aquaculture, accumulation of these compounds in fish meat leads to quality problems and reduces marketability. Conventional water treatments are ineffective at removing low concentration of odor compounds. We report herein ultrasonic irradiation at 640 kHz leads to rapid degradation of MIB and GSM. While radical processes generally dominate during ultrasonic-induced degradation, pyrolysis appears to be responsible for a significant fraction of the observed degradation. Several pyrolytic products from MIB and GSM have been identified and degradation pathways are elucidated. The degradation of MIB and GSM follows the first-order kinetics and the rate constants are 0.07 and 0.12 min(-1), respectively. These results suggest ultrasonic irradiation maybe applicable as an effective method for removal of taint compounds from potable water supplies and fish farms.

Case study of the sonochemical decolouration of textile azo dye Reactive Black 5

The decolouration and mineralization of reactive dye C.I. Reactive Black 5, a well-known representative of non-biodegradable azo dyes, by means of ultrasonic irradiation at 20, 279 and 817kHz has been investigated with emphasis on the effect of various parameters on decolouration and degradation efficiency. Characterization of the used ultrasound systems was performed using calorimetric measurements and oxidative species monitoring using Fricke and iodine dosimeter. Experiments were carried out with low frequency probe type, and a high-frequency plate type transducer at 50, 100 and 150W of acoustic power and within the 5-300mg/L initial dye concentration range. Decolouration, as well as radical production, increased with increasing frequency, acoustic power, and irradiation time. Any increase in initial dye concentration results in decreased decolouration rates. Sonochemical decolouration was substantially depressed by the addition of 2-methyl-2-propanol as a radical scavenger, which suggests radical-induced reactions in the solution. Acute toxicity to marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri was tested before and after ultrasound irradiation. Under the conditions employed in this study, no toxic compounds were detected after 6h of irradiation. Mineralization of the dye was followed by TOC measurements. Relatively low degradation efficiency (50% after 6h of treatment) indicates that ultrasound is rather inefficient in overall degradation, when used alone.

Toxicogenomic evaluation of microcystin-LR treated with ultrasonic irradiation

Microcystins are a family of toxins produced by cyanobacteria found throughout the world in marine and freshwater environments. The most commonly encountered form of microcystin is microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Humans are exposed to MC-LR by drinking contaminated water. The toxin accumulates rapidly in the liver where it exerts most of its damage. Treatment of water containing MC-LR by ultrasonic irradiation leads to the breakdown of the toxin. Both the parent toxin and the treated toxin reaction products (TTRP) were evaluated for toxic effects in mice. Animals were exposed to purified MC-LR or an equivalent dose of the TTRP and sacrificed after 4 h or 24 h. Serum was collected and assayed for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity as an indicator of hepatotoxicity. LDH activity was detected in the serum of MC-LR exposed mice indicative of liver damage, but not in control mice. Only a fraction of that activity was detectable in mice exposed to TTRP. Liver RNA was used for microarray analysis and real-time PCR. Individual animals varied in their overall genomic response to the toxin; however, only 20 genes showed consistent changes in expression. These include chaperones which may be part of a generalized stress response; cytochrome P450 which may be involved in metabolizing the toxin; and lipid dystrophy genes such as lipin-2, uridine phosphorylase and a homolog to tribbles, a stress-inducible gene involved in cell death. Of the genes that responded to the MC-LR, none showed significant changes in expression profile in response to TTRP. Taken together, the data indicate that ultrasonic irradiation of MC-LR effectively reduces hepatotoxicity in mice and therefore may be a useful method for detoxification of drinking water.

Ultrasound-Induced Aqueous Removal of Nitric Oxide from Flue Gases: Effects of Sulfur Dioxide, Chloride, and Chemical Oxidant

The effects of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), sodium chloride (NaCl), and peroxymonosulfate or oxone (2KHSO(5).KHSO(4).K(2)SO(4) with active ingredient, HSO(5)(-)) on the sonochemical removal of nitric oxide (NO) have been studied in a bubble column reactor. The initial concentration of NO studied ranged from about 500 to 1040 ppm. NaCl in the concentration range of 0.01-0.5 M was used as the electrolyte to study the effect of ionic strength. At the low NaCl concentration (0.01 M), the percent fractional removal of NO with initial concentration of 1040 ppm was enhanced significantly, while as the NaCl concentration increased, the positive effects were less pronounced. The presence of approximately 2520 ppm SO(2) in combination with 0.01 M NaCl further enhanced NO removal. However, with a NO initial concentration of 490 ppm, the addition of NaCl was detrimental to NO removal at all NaCl concentration levels. The combinative effect of sonication and chemical oxidation using 0.005-0.05 M oxone was also studied. While the lower concentrations of HSO(5)(-) enhanced NO removal efficiency, higher concentrations were detrimental depending on the initial concentration of NO. It was also demonstrated that in the presence of ultrasound, the smallest concentration of oxone was needed to obtain optimal fractional conversion of NO.