Abstract
This work aimed at the characterization and application of a cavitation field induced in water by an ultrasonic reactor operating at 1700 kHz and 15 W. It was found that the size of active bubbles varied from 0.23 to 3 mu m. The number of active bubbles increased from 6.1142 x 10(8) s(-1) L-1 at 25 degrees C to 4.4684 x 10(9) s(-1) L-1 at 55 degrees C. The most active bubbles were those achieving temperature of 4000 K and pressure of 1000 atm at the collapse. The characterized cavitation field removed efficiently toluidine blue (TB), an emerging organic contaminant, through reaction with hydroxyl radical. The best TB-removal rate was obtained under argon saturation, but CO2 completely suppressed the process. TB degradation rate sensitively enhanced with increasing initial substrate concentration and solution pH, whereas the liquid temperature did not affect the degradation rate. Formic acid, as an organic competitor, reduced considerably the degradation of the pollutant.