SONOCHEMICAL DESTRUCTION OF CHLORINATED-C1 AND CHLORINATED-C2 VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN DILUTE AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

The results of an investigation on the ultrasonic destruction of chlorinated C2 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water and preliminary studies of (1) the effect of steady-state temperature on the destruction efficiency and (2) the mixture effects are also reported. Aqueous solutions of methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene in concentrations ranging from 50 to 35-0 mg/L were irradiated with 20-kHz ultrasonic waves in a sonochemical reactor (0.1 kW/L) under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The concentration of solutes decreased rapidly in all cases. The pH of the solutions decreased rapidly during sonication, indicating that a significant fraction of the Cl liberated was converted into HCl or other acid species. GC/MS analysis indicated that no other chlorinated products were formed as a result of sonication. Initial pH of the solution and the presence of other chlorinated VOC's (mixture effects) were found to have little influence upon the destruction of the compound. Percent destruction varied from 72 to 99.9%.