ULTRASONIC DIGESTION OF LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT ORGANICS AND BACTERIAL DECONTAMINATION IN WATER

This study reports the use of ultrasound in destructing low molecular weight organic compounds (alcohols, ketones and aldehydes) in dilute concentrations and bacterial decontamination in water at ambient temperature. An aqueous flow cell system was assembled to measure the formate and acetate products by an on-line ion chromatograph. The formation of formate and acetate supports an oxidative mechanism and increases with decreasing flow rates. The bactericidal effect of sonication in static water was found to increase with increasing sonolysis times and volumes of the headspace (argon atmosphere over atmospheric air) above the liquid in the enclosed vessel.