Sonochemical degradation of chlorophenols in water

Sonochemical degradation of dilute aqueous solutions of 2-, 3- and 4-chlorophenol and pentachlorophenol has been investigated under air or argon atmosphere. The degradation follows first-order kinetics in the initial state with rates in the range 4.5-6.6 microM min-1 under air and 6.0-7.2 microM min-1 under argon at a concentration of 100 microM of chlorophenols. The rate of OH radical formation from water is 19.8 microM min-1 under argon and 14.7 microM min-1 under air in the same sonolysis conditions. The sonolysis of chlorophenols is effectively inhibited, but not completely, by the addition of t-BuOH, which is known to be an efficient OH radical scavenger in aqueous sonolysis. This suggests that the main degradation of chlorophenols proceeds via reaction with OH radicals; a thermal reaction also occurs, although its contribution is small. The addition of appropriate amounts of Fe(II) ions accelerates the degradation. This is probably due to the regeneration of OH radicals from hydrogen peroxide, which would be formed from recombination of OH radicals and which may contribute a little to the degradation. The ability to inhibit bacterial multiplication of pentachlorophenol decreases with ultrasonic irradiation.     

Sonochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

Sonolysis of carbon dioxide dissolved in water was performed from a standpoint of reducing this material in atmosphere. During one hour of sonication, the amount of CO2 decreased to about half at 5 degrees C under CO2-Ar atmosphere. The decreasing rate for CO2 followed the order Ar > He > H2 > N2 and it was down with increasing temperature in the range of 5-45 degrees C. The most favorable concentration for reducing CO2 was 0.03 (mole fraction of CO2 in gas phase). This concentration in gas phase means an equal mixture of CO2 and Ar in water, because CO2 is more soluble than Ar. Since carbon dioxide dissolved in water would be partly ionized, the roles of ions on the sonolysis were also examined. Gaseous reaction products were CO, H2 and a small amount of O2. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen might be obtained from CO2 and H2O by sonolysis, respectively. Both gases are fuel and react each other to C1 compounds such as methanol, and so on. Therefore, irradiation of ultrasonic waves should be an important technique for reducing CO2.     

Identification of Intermediates in Pyridine Pyrolysis with Molecular-beam Mass Spectrometry and Tunable Synchrotron VUV Photoionization

利用可调谐同步辐射真空紫外光电离结合分子束取样技术研究吡啶的热解,温度是1255―1765 K、压力为267 Pa. 通过测量光电离质谱和光电离效率谱,鉴别了近20种产物和中间物,并给出了物种随温度变化的摩尔分数. 主要的产物为H2、HCN、C2H2、C5H3N、C4H2和C3H3N. 根据实验结果分析了吡啶热解的一些主要反应路径.     

Sonolysis of an aqueous mixture of trichloroethylene and chlorobenzene

The effect of the initial concentration on the ultrasonic degradation of two volatile organic compounds trichloroethylene (TCE) and chlorobenzene (CB) was investigated. At higher concentrations, slower sonolysis rates were obtained due to the lowering of the average specific heat ratio gamma of the gas inside the cavitation bubbles. Furthermore, the effect of different concentrations of CB on the sonolysis of 3.34 mM TCE and the effect of different concentrations of TCE on the sonolysis of 3.44 mM CB was examined. The presence of CB lowered the sonolysis rate of TCE, while the sonolysis rate of CB did not decrease by TCE addition. An even higher sonolysis rate was obtained for 3.44 mM CB in the presence of 0.84 mM TCE than without TCE. The explanation for the different effects of both volatile organics on each other's sonolysis rate is thought to be the difference in reaction rate of TCE and CB with the radicals formed during sonolysis. The effect of TCE on the sonolysis rate of CB by lowering the gamma value is compensated by an increased indirect degradation of CB by radicals formed out of TCE. The decreased thermal degradation and the increased indirect radical degradation of CB in the presence of TCE is demonstrated by determining the kinetics of the degradation products styrene and dichlorobenzene.     

Sonolysis of an oxalic acid solution under xenon lamp irradiation

The photosonolysis of oxalic acid was carried out in an Ar atmosphere. The detectable products of sonolysis were CO₂, CO, H₂, and H₂O₂. The yield of CO₂ was higher than that for the sum of sonolysis and photolysis reactions. Namely, a synergistic effect was observed during simultaneous irradiations of 200 kHz ultrasound and Xe lamp. The degradation of oxalic acid was promoted by active species such as H₂O₂ produced from water by sonolysis. An oxalic acid–H₂O₂ complex is likely to be present in the solution, but could not be detected. The effects of not only the photo-irradiation but also the thermal or incident energy during Xe lamp illumination were also considered.     

Pr3+,Yb3+共掺YPO4下转换材料的制备及其转光效率

采用固相反应法制备了Pr³⁺,Yb³⁺共掺杂的YPO₄下转换发光粉体,并在450 nm光激发条件下,研究了Yb³⁺不同摩尔分数(0%,1%,2%,4%,20%,30%)对转光效率的影响。结果表明:不同Yb³⁺浓度的样品,其荧光峰强度不同,这可能是由于Pr³⁺-Yb³⁺之间Yb³⁺浓度不同存在能量传递效率差异的原因。研究也发现了样品的下转换发光,其能量传递过程为:Pr³⁺:³P₀→Yb³⁺:²F_5/2+²F_5/2。荧光光谱测试结果表明,Yb³⁺的最佳掺杂摩尔分数为2%。Pr³⁺,Yb³⁺共掺杂的YPO₄材料在提高太阳能电池光电转换效率方面具有潜在的应用。     

Effective removal of organics from Bayer liquor through combined sonolysis and ozonation: Kinetics and mechanism

The presence of organic compounds in the waste liquor is of serious environmental concern that has plagued the development of alumina industry (Bayer Process). The present work attempts to develop a green and efficient process for removal of organics utilizing combined effect of sonolysis and ozonation (US/O₃). The effects of reaction duration, ozone concentration and ultrasonic power are assessed for sonolysis (US), ozonation (O₃) and combination of sonolysis and ozonation (US/O₃). The optimal conditions for US/O₃ treatment system is identified to be a reaction duration of 7 h, ozone concentration of 7.65 g/h, and ultrasonic power of 600 W. The total organic carbon (TOC) removal and decolorization are 60.13% and 87.1%, respectively. The process can be scaled-up to industrial scale, which could potentially serve to be a convenient, safe and sustainable alternative to the exisiting treatment technologies. Additionally, the treated waste water can be reused contributing to an improvement in the overall economics.     

Oxidative decomposition and mineralization of caffeine by advanced oxidation processes: The effect of hybridization

The study consists of a detailed investigation of the degradability of the emerging water contaminant-caffeine by homogeneous and heterogeneous Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP’s), estimation of a synergy index for each hybrid operation thereof, and proposing the most plausible reaction mechanisms that are consistent with the experimental data. It also encompasses evaluation of the effect of the water matrix represented by carbonate species and humic acids, as strong scavengers of hydroxyl radicals. The results showed that single AOP’s such as sonolysis (577 kHz) and photolysis with H₂O₂ provided complete caffeine elimination, but they were insufficient for the mineralization of the compound. Hybrid AOP’s were considerably more effective, particularly when operated at a heterogeneous mode using commercial TiO₂. The most effective hybrid process was UV-H₂O₂/TiO₂, which provided more than 75% TOC decay at the minimum test doses of the reagent and catalyst. While the addition of ultrasound to the process significantly increased the rate of caffeine decomposition, it reduced the overall degradation of the compound to 64% in terms of TOC decay. The antagonistic effect was attributed to the formation of excess H₂O₂, and the presence of cavity clouds and/or high density layers that inhibited the transmission of UV light. The effect of natural water ingredients was found to reduce the reaction rates, signifying the major contribution of hydroxyl radicals to the destruction of caffeine. The proposed reaction mechanisms based on OH radical attack and the calculated energy barriers were in good agreement with the experimentally detected reaction byproducts.     

Proton-Transfer Kinetics of Photoexcited 7-Hydroxy-1-Naphthalenesulfonic Acid in Aqueous Formamide Solutions

The monoanion of 7-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (HNS) undergoes pseudo-first order dissociation and its conjugate base, second order protonation in the lowest excited singlet state. The proton transfer kinetics in water containing formamide up to a mole fraction of about 0.95 have been evaluated as a function of formamide concentration. At mole fractions above 0.95 of formamide, proton-transfer does not measurably occur. At mole fractions below 0.95, steady state and pulsed-source fluorimetries show the rate constant for dissociation to decrease exponentially with increasing mole fraction of formamide. This is believed to be due to penetration and disruption of the aqueous solvent cage of the HNS by formamide, resulting in impairment of the Grotthus proton-transfer mechanism.     

Bacterial cell wall material properties determine E. coli resistance to sonolysis

The applications of bacterial sonolysis in industrial settings are plagued by the lack of the knowledge of the exact mechanism of action of sonication on bacterial cells, variable effectiveness of cavitation on bacteria, and inconsistent data of its efficiency. In this study we have systematically changed material properties of E. coli cells to probe the effect of different cell wall layers on bacterial resistance to ultrasonic irradiation (20 kHz, output power 6,73 W, horn type, 3 mm probe tip diameter, 1 ml sample volume). We have determined the rates of sonolysis decay for bacteria with compromised major capsular polymers, disrupted outer membrane, compromised peptidoglycan layer, spheroplasts, giant spheroplasts, and in bacteria with different cell physiology. The non-growing bacteria were 5-fold more resistant to sonolysis than growing bacteria. The most important bacterial cell wall structure that determined the outcome during sonication was peptidoglycan. If peptidoglycan was remodelled, weakened, or absent the cavitation was very efficient. Cells with removed peptidoglycan had sonolysis resistance equal to lipid vesicles and were extremely sensitive to sonolysis. The results suggest that bacterial physiological state as well as cell wall architecture are major determinants that influence the outcome of bacterial sonolysis.     

Sonolysis of per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A meta-analysis

Human ingestion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated food and water is linked to the development of several cancers, birth defects and other illnesses. The complete mineralisation of aqueous PFAS by ultrasound (sonolysis) into harmless inorganics has been demonstrated in many studies. However, the range and interconnected nature of reaction parameters (frequency, power, temperature etc.), and variety of reaction metrics used, limits understanding of degradation mechanisms and parametric trends. This work summarises the state-of-the-art for PFAS sonolysis, considering reaction mechanisms, kinetics, intermediates, products, rate limiting steps, reactant and product measurement techniques, and effects of co-contaminants. The meta-analysis showed that mid-high frequency (100 – 1,000 kHz) sonolysis mechanisms are similar, regardless of reaction conditions, while the low frequency (20 – 100 kHz) mechanisms are specific to oxidative species added, less well understood, and generally slower than mid-high frequency mechanisms. Arguments suggest that PFAS degradation occurs via adsorption (not absorption) at the bubble interface, followed by headgroup cleavage. Further mechanistic steps toward mineralisation remain to be proven. For the first time, complete stoichiometric reaction equations are derived for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) sonolysis, which add H₂ as a reaction product and consider CO an intermediate. Fluorinated intermediate products are derived for common, and more novel PFAS, and a naming system proposed for novel perfluoroether carboxylates. The meta-analysis also revealed the transition between pseudo first and zero order PFOA/S kinetics commonly occurs at 15 – 40 µM. Optimum values of; ultrasonic frequency (300 – 500 kHz), concentration (>15 – 40 μM), temperature (≈20 °C), and pH range (3.2 – 4) for rapid PFOX degradation are derived by evaluation of prior works, while optimum values for the dilution factor applied to PFAS containing firefighting foams and applied power require further work. Rate limiting steps are debated and F⁻ is shown to be rate enhancing, while SO₄²⁻ and CO₂ by products are theorised to be rate limiting. Sonolysis was compared to other PFAS destructive technologies and shown to be the only treatment which fully mineralises PFAS, degrades different PFAS in order of decreasing hydrophobicity, is parametrically well studied, and has low-moderate energy requirements (several kWh g⁻¹ PFAS). It is concluded that sonolysis of PFAS in environmental samples would be well incorporated within a treatment train for improved efficiency.     

Fixation of nitrogen with cavitation

The sonochemical fixation of nitrogen to ammonia was investigated by sonolysis of liquids with nitrogen/hydrogen gas mixtures passing through them. The maximum rate (4 nmol min-1 W-1) was found in water irradiated with 900 kHz ultrasound with gas of a mole fraction 0.6 of nitrogen and the lowest temperature (278 K). Some traces of ammonia were found in the absence of external hydrogen gas, as hydrogen atoms are also formed in sonolysis of water. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that some ammonia formation should occur at the "hot spot" temperatures present in collapsing cavities. The decrease in the rate with bulk temperature suggests that kinetics, rather than thermodynamics, is the limiting condition for sonochemical synthesis of ammonia. Ammonia can be produced in organic media, but at a lower rate. A substantial portion of the ammonia in the experiments with alkanes exited with the sparging gas and was trapped in a dilute HCl solution.     

Degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether in water: effects of the combined use of sonolysis and photocatalysis

The degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water was kinetically investigated in a O(2)/Ar 80:20 atmosphere employing either sonolysis at 20 kHz, or photocatalysis on TiO(2) (with 315 nm< lambda(irr) <400 nm), or simultaneous sonolysis and photocatalysis (i.e. sonophotocatalysis), as degradation techniques. In all investigated conditions, MTBE concentration decreased according to a first order rate law; under ultrasound the degradation rate was stirring-dependent. The time profile of the reaction intermediates gave information on the reaction paths prevailing under the different experimental conditions. The energy consumption of the employed degradation techniques was also evaluated, which might be decisive for their practical application.     

Sonolysis of chlorobenzene in Fenton-type aqueous systems

The influence of ultrasounds (200 kHz frequency) on the decomposition of chlorobenzene (CB) in a water solution (around 100 ppm concentration) containing iron or palladium sulfates was investigated. The intermediates of the sonolysis were identified, thus allowing a deeper insight into the degradation mechanism. It was established that CB degradation starts by pyrolysis inside the cavitation bubbles. The initial sonolysis product is benzene, formed in a reaction occurring outside the cavitation from phenyl radicals and the hydrogen atoms sonolytically generated from the water. Polyphenols as products of the CB sonochemical degradation are reported for the first time. The palladium salt was found to be a useful and sensitive indicator for differentiating the sites and mechanisms of the product formation. An alternative mechanism for the CB sonolysis is advanced, explaining the formation of phenols, polyphenols, chlorophenols and benzene.     

FT-EPR and HPLC study of the mechanism of 4-chlorophenol photolysis

The mechanism of 4-chlorophenol (4CP) photolysis was investigated with the aid of Fourier Transform Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (FT-EPR) and pulsed-laser photolysis combined with High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) detection-of stable (diamagnetic) products. With FT-EPR transient free radicals produced by pulsed-laser excitation of solutions of 4CP in alcohols could be identified. Time profiles of the FT-EPR spectra provided information on reaction kinetics and Chemically Induced Dynamic, Electron Polarization (CIDEP) effects. It was found that 4CP photolysis in alcohols leads to the simultaneous formation of the phenoxyl radical and radicals produced by hydrogen abstraction from the solvent. CIDEP patterns establish that these radicals are formed in a reaction sequence involving a triplet state precursor and radical pair intermediate. Results of earlier transient optical absorption measurements indicate that the triplet precursor must be the carbene 4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene. This assignment is supported by the finding that photolysis of quinone diazide in a hydrogen-donating solvent gives the same free radical products as those obtained from 4CP. The formation of the phenoxyl radical intermediate accounts for the finding that photolysis of deoxygenated solutions of 4CP in alcohols gives phenol as stable diamagnetic product. By contrast, photolysis of aerated and deoxygenated aqueous solutions of 4CP produces benzoquinone and hydroquinone as primary products, respectively.     

Hydrolysis kinetics of photoexcited 6-methoxyquinoline in aqueous acetonitrile solutions

6-Methoxyquinoline undergoes pseudo-first-order hydrolysis and its conjugate acid, second-order proton abstraction by hydroxide ion, in the lowest excited singlet state. The proton transfer kinetics in water containing acetonitrile up to a mole fraction of about 0.1 have been evaluated as a function of acetonitrile concentration. At mole fractions above 0.13 of acetonitrile, proton transfer does not occur. At mole fractions below 0.1 steady-state and pulsed-source fluorimetries show the rate constant for hydrolysis to decrease exponentially with the mole fraction of acetonitrile. This is believed to be due to penetration of the aqueous solvent cage of the 6-methoxyquinoline by acetonitrile rather than to specific solvation by the organic cosolvent. The rate of neutralization of the conjugate acid by hydroxide ion is found to vary only slightly and depends on the bulk dielectric properties of the solvent.     

Removal of organic matter and ammonia nitrogen from landfill leachate by ultrasound

Experiments on the removal of organic matters and ammonia nitrogen from landfill leachate by ultrasound irradiation were carried out. The effects of COD reduction and ammonia removal of power input, initial concentration, initial pH and aeration were studied. It was found that the sonolysis of organic matters proceeds via reaction with ()OH radicals; a thermal reaction also occurs with a small contribution. The rise of COD at some intervals could be explained by the complexity of organic pollutant sonolysis in landfill leachate. Ultrasonic irradiation was shown to be an effective method for the removal of ammonia nitrogen from landfill leachate. After 180 min ultrasound irradiation, up to 96% ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency can be obtained. It was found that the mechanism of ammonia nitrogen removal by ultrasound irradiation is largely that the free ammonia molecules in leachate enter into the cavitation bubbles and transform into nitrogen molecules and hydrogen molecules via pyrolysis under instant high temperature and high pressure in the cavitation bubbles.     

时间、能量分辨的光电离质谱技术研究气相自由基反应

闪光光解流动管反应器与同步辐射光电离质谱技术两者相结合组成实验平台用于探测气相自由基反应动力学。外触发的脉冲激光光解流动管反应器内的先驱物来产生待反应的自由基;自由基与反应气体发生反应后,由流动管侧壁小孔取样、取样后的混合气体被同步辐射光电离;飞行时间质谱探测光电离产生的离子。同时脉冲信号触发脉冲发生器使其产生一连串的脉冲,间隔40~50μs,此脉冲外触发质谱的采集,连续采集覆盖单次光解反应过程。质谱的时间分辨率为40μs,满足微秒时间内探测反应动力学过程。通过同步辐射光电离反射飞行质谱能直接探测自由基反应产物,并利用光电离效率曲线获得其电离能并区分不同的异构体。实验利用光解产生Cl自由基并与1-丁烯和异丁烯反应,测得反应的加成和消除产物,并获得其加成产物的电离能。     

乙二醇均相溶液中苊醌三重激发态淬灭反应的TR-ESR研究

利用时间分辨电子自旋共振（TR-ESR）方法,研究了乙二醇（EG）均相溶液中稳定自由基TEMPO和生物抗氧化剂维生素C（VC）对苊醌（ACQ）激发三重态3ACQ*的淬灭反应。光解ACQ/EG体系,观察到苊醌中性自由基ACQH•和乙二醇烷基自由基的发射/吸收+发射（E/A+E）的CIDEP信号,ACQH•和CH2(OH)C•HOH由3ACQ*从EG上夺氢生成。光解ACQ/TEMPO/EG体系,3ACQ*与TEMPO相互作用将极化转移给TEMPO。光解ACQ/VC/EG体系,3ACQ*除了从EG上夺氢外,还从VC上夺氢生成VC负离子基As•-。较强的As•-的CIDEP信号表明VC对3ACQ*有明显的淬灭作用。     

A comparative study on the hydrolysis of acetic anhydride and N,N‐dimethylformamide: Kinetic isotope effect,transition‐state structure,polarity, and solvent effect

Recent studies have shown that general‐base assisted catalysis is a viable mechanistic pathway for hydrolysis of smaller anhydrides. Therefore, it is the central purpose of the present work to compare and contrast the number of hydrogen atoms in‐flight and stationary in the transition state structure of the base‐catalyzed mechanisms of 2 hydrolytic reactions as well as determine if any solvent effects occur on the mechanisms. The present research focuses on the hydrolytic mechanisms of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetic anhydride in alkali media of varying deuterium oxide mole fractions. Acetic anhydride has been included in this study to enable comparisons with DMF hydrolysis. Comparative studies may give synergistic insight into the detailed structural features of the activated complexes for both systems. Hydrolysis reactions in varying deuterium oxide mole fractions were conducted in concentrations of 2.0M , 2.5M , and 3.0M for DMF and 0.10M for acetic anhydride at 25°C. Studies in varying deuterium mole fractions allow for proton inventory analysis, which sheds light on the number and types of hydrogen atoms involved in the activated complex. For these systems, this type of study can distinguish between direct nucleophilic attack of the hydroxide ion on the carbonyl center and general‐base catalysis by the hydroxide ion to facilitate a water molecule attacking the carbonyl center. The numerical data are used to discuss 3 possible mechanisms in the hydrolysis of DMF.