A study investigating the sonoelectrochemical degradation of an organic compound employing Fenton's reagent

Abstract

The degradation of an organic dye molecule (specifically meldola blue, MDB) is reported under the influence of power ultrasound in combination with electrochemically-generated hydrogen peroxide. A novel flow system is employed to measure the degradation as a function of time while minimising the disturbance to the acoustics of the sonoelectrochemical reactor employed. The effect of adding Fe²⁺ to the rate of dye degradation is measured and demonstrated to be significant. Under optimum conditions the rate constant for dye degradation was found to reach a maximum value of (23.7 ± 0.35) × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ assuming pseudo-first order kinetics. The rate constant for the complete destruction of MDB, determined by chemical oxygen demand, was found to be significantly slower at (10.2 ± 2.6) × 10⁻³ min⁻¹.