Removal of single and dual ring thiophene’s from dodecane using cavitation based processes

Utilising cavitation for enhancing oxidative desulphurization has been investigated for nearly-two decades with recent investigations shifting focus from low-capacity acoustic cavitation (AC) to scalable hydrodynamic cavitation (HC). This work focuses on developing a viable means for removing thiophene’s from fuels. In the first phase of this work, use of vortex based HC devices for removal of single and dual ring thiophenes from dodecane was investigated. HC was shown to be able to remove single ring thiophene from dodecane without using any external catalyst or additives. However, in absence of catalyst or additives, it was not possible to remove dual ring thiophenes such as dibenzothiophene using HC. Therefore, in the second phase of this work, various strategies based on use of catalyst or additives to augment cavitation based process were investigated. AC based experiments were opted for shortlisting suitable catalysts and additives for intensifying cavitation based processes. The influence of using oxidant (H₂O₂) and carboxylic acid catalysts on efficacy of removal of dual ring thiophenes is presented. Several conditions were tested, and the optimal volumetric ratios of 0.95 v/v % H₂O₂ and 6.25 v/v % HCOOH was identified and utilised throughout the remainder of the study. Regeneration of extractant which accumulates oxidised sulphur species from dodecane was also investigated using AC. The additives and process conditions reported in this work are useful for enhancing desulphurization performance.     

Theoretical analysis of sonochemical degradation of phenol and its chloro-derivatives

Phenol and its chloro-derivatives contribute significantly to environmental pollution hazards due to their high degree of toxicity as well as improper disposal methods. Cavitation can be used successfully for degradation of phenolic compounds and the rates of degradation are dependent on the type of the primary pollutant in the system. In the present work, a theoretical explanation has been provided to explain the observed degradation trends of phenol and chlorophenols on the basis of concentration of the pollutant at the cavitation bubble/solution interface. Chemical stability of these compounds towards radical attack in the liquid phase has been discussed. It has been observed that chloro-derivates degrade much faster as compared to the parent compound due to higher hydrophobicity of chloro-derivates.     

Wastewater treatment using hybrid treatment schemes based on cavitation and Fenton chemistry: A review

Advanced oxidation processes such as cavitation and Fenton chemistry have shown considerable promise for wastewater treatment applications due to the ease of operation and simple reactor design. In this review, hybrid methods based on cavitation coupled with Fenton process for the treatment of wastewater have been discussed. The basics of individual processes (Acoustic cavitation, Hydrodynamic cavitation, Fenton chemistry) have been discussed initially highlighting the need for combined processes. The different types of reactors used for the combined processes have been discussed with some recommendations for large scale operation. The effects of important operating parameters such as solution temperature, initial pH, initial pollutant concentration and Fenton’s reagent dosage have been discussed with guidelines for selection of optimum parameters. The optimization of power density is necessary for ultrasonic processes (US) and combined processes (US/Fenton) whereas the inlet pressure needs to be optimized in the case of Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) based processes. An overview of different pollutants degraded under optimized conditions using HC/Fenton and US/Fenton process with comparison with individual processes have been presented. It has been observed that the main mechanism for the synergy of the combined process depends on the generation of additional hydroxyl radicals and its proper utilization for the degradation of the pollutant, which is strongly dependent on the loading of hydrogen peroxide. Overall, efficient wastewater treatment with high degree of energy efficiency can be achieved using combined process operating under optimized conditions, as compared to the individual process.     

Effect of additives on ultrasonic degradation of phenol

Sonication for phenol degradation has proved to be an attractive process over the years at least on a laboratory scale but the rates of phenol degradation under sonication have always been quite low. The present work investigates the use of simple additives such as salt and carbon tetrachloride as process intensifying parameters with an aim of reduction in the treatment times and hence the cost of operation. The intermediates formed in the degradation process have been analyzed and it has been observed that these intermediates degrade faster as compared to phenol. A hybrid technique of ozonation coupled with cavitation has also been investigated with an objective of finding the optimum conditions for the combination of ozonation and cavitation for synergistic effects. Analysis of the intermediates for the combination treatment scheme also indicates that the intermediates (hydroquinone, catechol, resorcinol, maleic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, formic acid, etc.) are more biodegradable prompting a possible combination of cavitation with aerobic oxidation for large scale treatment of phenol containing waste.     

Ultrasonic intensification of ozone and electrochemical destruction of 1,3-dinitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene

The removal of nitroaromatics from polluted water is difficult due to their high stability to conventional treatment methods. This paper presents a method for the destruction of 1,3-dinitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene in aqueous solutions. The compounds are shown to be stable to reaction with ozone, even under ultrasonic activation. The use of ultrasound enhances the rate of electrochemical reduction but the overall rate of reaction is still slow. However, the simultaneous application of ultrasound and ozonation to the electrochemical reaction allows virtually complete destruction of the compounds in short times. The effect is attributed to the ultrasonic enhancement of the electrochemical process giving intermediates that are susceptible to ozone oxidation. While further analytical work is needed to deduce the exact contributions of the various possible degradation mechanisms, the work demonstrates the synergies that can be gained by using combined techniques for the destruction of these difficult compounds.     

Enhanced electro-catalytic degradation of chloroorganic compounds in the presence of ultrasound

The application of finely divided (black) Pd and Pd-Fe powder in the sono-electro-catalytic reduction of chlorophenoxy herbicides (2,4-D) and chlorophenols (2,4-DCP) in aqueous solutions allows for effective destruction of toxic chlorinated aromatic compounds. At 20 degrees C complete conversion of these compounds is observed within 10 min. On bimetallic Pd/Fe catalyst, intermediates due to the oxidation reaction are detected in addition to the products of dechlorination. The bimetallic catalyst appears to be energetically and economically superior to the Pd. In both cases, the reaction times were considerably shortened in comparison with traditional electro-catalytic processes.     

Hybrid reactor based on combined cavitation and ozonation: From concept to practical reality

The present work gives an in depth discussion related to the development of a hybrid advanced oxidation reactor, which can be effectively used for the treatment of various types of water. The reactor is based on the principle of intensifying degradation/disinfection using a combination of hydrodynamic cavitation, acoustic cavitation, ozone injection and electrochemical oxidation/precipitation. Theoretical studies have been presented to highlight the uniform distribution of the cavitational activity and enhanced generation of hydroxyl radicals in the cavitation zone, as well as higher turbulence in the main reactor zone. The combination of these different oxidation technologies have been shown to result in enhanced water treatment ability, which can be attributed to the enhanced generation of hydroxyl radicals, enhanced contact of ozone and contaminants, and the elimination of mass transfer resistances during electrochemical oxidation/precipitation. Compared to the use of individual approaches, the hybrid reactor is expected to intensify the treatment process by 5–20 times, depending on the application in question, which can be confirmed based on the literature illustrations. Also, the use of Ozonix® has been successfully proven while processing recycled fluids at commercial sites on over 750 oil and natural gas wells during hydraulic operations around the United States. The superiority of the hybrid process over conventional chemical treatments in terms of bacteria and scale reduction as well as increased water flowability and better chemical compatibility, which is a key requirement for oil and gas applications, has been established.     

Application of ultrasonic irradiation for the degradation of chemical contaminants in water

The sonochemical degradation of a variety of chemical contaminants in aqueous solution has been investigated. Substrates such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, pesticides, phenols, explosives such as TNT, and esters are transformed into short-chain organic acids, CO₂, and inorganic ions as the final products. Time scales of treatment in simple batch reactors over the frequency range of 20 to 500 kHz are reported to range from minutes to hours for complete degradation. Ultrasonic irradiation appears to be an effective method for the rapid destruction of organic contaminants in water because of localized high concentrations of oxidizing species such as hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide in solution, high localized temperatures and pressures, and the formation of transient supercritical water.

The degradation of chemical compounds by acoustic cavitation is shown to involve three distinct pathways: 1) oxidation by hydroxyl radicals, 2) pyrolytic decomposition and 3) supercritical water oxidation. Detailed reaction mechanisms for the degradation of p-nitrophenol, carbon tetrachloride, parathion, p-nitrophenyl acetate and trinitrotoluene are presented.     

Cavitation assisted delignification of wheat straw: a review

Wheat is grown in most of the Indian and Chinese regions and after harvesting, the remaining straw offers considerable promise as a renewable source most suitable for papermaking and as a pulping resource. Delignification of wheat straw offers ample scope for energy conservation by way of the application of the process intensification principles. The present work reviews the pretreatment techniques available for improving the effectiveness of the conventional approach for polysaccharide component separation, softening and delignification. A detailed overview of the cavitation assisted delignification process has been presented based on the earlier literature illustrations and important operational guidelines have been presented for overall low-cost and amenable energy utilization in the processes. The effectiveness of the methods has been evaluated according to yield and properties of the isolated fibers in comparison to the conventional treatment. Also the experimental results of one such non-conventional treatment scheme based on the use of hydrodynamic cavitation have been presented for the pulping of wheat straw. The effect of hydrodynamically induced cavitation on cell wall matrix and its components have been characterized using FT-IR analysis with an objective of understanding the cavitation assisted digestion mechanism on straws. It has been observed that the use of hydrodynamic cavitation does not degrade the fibrillar structure of cellulose but causes relocalisation and partial removal of lignin. Overall it appears that considerable improvement can be obtained due to the use of pretreatment or alternate techniques for delignification, which is an energy intensive step in the paper making industries.     

强非局域非线性介质中光束传输的Ince-Gauss解

利用强非局域非线性介质中傍轴光束传输的线性模型（Snyder-Mitchell模型）讨论了椭圆坐标系下光束传输过程,通过设立Ince多项式对Gauss函数的调制解得到了强非局域非线性介质中光束稳定传输的Ince-Gauss解.当Ince-Gauss光束的入射功率为临界功率时,光束保持孤子形式传输,否则传输光束的束宽呈现周期性波动,即为呼吸子形式.同时还数值模拟了呼吸子的传输过程.Ince-Gauss光在一定条件下可以连续转换为Hermite-Gauss光或Laguerre-Gauss光,图示展现了几个低阶Ince型光孤子及其转换情况. 关键词： 强非局域非线性介质 Ince-Gauss光 Laguerre-Gauss光 Hermite-Gauss光