Sonocatalytic removal of ibuprofen and sulfamethoxazole in the presence of different fly ash sources

• Published in: Ultrasonics sonochemistry Vol. 39; pp. 354 - 362
• Main Authors: Al-Hamadani, Yasir A.J., Park, Chang Min, Assi, Lateef N., Chu, Kyoung Hoon, Hoque, Shamia, Jang, Min, Yoon, Yeomin, Ziehl, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Fly ash; Ibuprofen; Sonocatalytical degradation; Sulfamethoxazole; Water treatment; Fly ash; Water treatment; Sulfamethoxazole; Sonocatalytical degradation; Ibuprofen
• ISSN: 1350-4177; 1873-2828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.05.003

•Sonocatalytical degradation of ibuprofen and sulfamethoxazole was investigated.•Effect of pH and frequency on the degradation was studied.•In the presence of fly ashes, >99% removal of IBP and SMX was achieved at 580kHz and pH 3.5. We examined the feasibility of using two types of fly ash (an industrial waste from thermal power plants) as a low-cost catalyst to enhance the ultrasonic (US) degradation of ibuprofen (IBP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Two fly ashes, Belews Creek fly ash (BFA), from a power station in North Carolina, and Wateree Station fly ash (WFA), from a power station in South Carolina, were used. The results showed that >99% removal of IBP and SMX was achieved within 30 and 60min of sonication, respectively, at 580kHz and pH 3.5. Furthermore, the removal of IBP and SMX achieved, in terms of frequency, was in the order 580kHz>1000kHz>28kHz, and in terms of pH, was in the order of pH 3.5>pH 7>pH 9.5. WFA showed significant enhancement in the removal of IBP and SMX, which reached >99% removal within 20 and 50min, respectively, at 580kHz and pH 3.5. This was presumably because WFA contains more silicon dioxide than BFA, which can enhance the formation of OH radicals during sonication. Additionally, WFA has finer particles than BFA, which can increase the adsorption capacity in removing IBP and SMX. The sonocatalytic degradation of IBP and SMX fitted pseudo first-order rate kinetics and the synergistic indices of all the reactions were determined to compare the efficiency of the fly ashes. Overall, the findings have showed that WFA combined with US has potential for treating organic pollutants, such as IBP and SMX, in water and wastewater.