Effect of TiO2 powder addition on sonochemical destruction of 1,4-dioxane in aqueous systems

Effects of TiO(2) powder addition on sonochemical destruction of 1,4-dioxane in water were investigated through comparison of a SiO(2) powder that had similar specific surface area. Results show that addition of TiO(2) is more effective for decomposition of 1,4-dioxane in water than addition of SiO(2). The contribution of photocatalytic destruction through sonoluminescence is not a dominant mechanism for acceleration of sonochemical reactions by adding TiO(2). Sonication of TiO(2)-added water generated thermally excited holes in this case. Moreover, intrinsic oxygen vacancies in TiO(2) surface play an important role in achieving high decomposition efficiency by producing cavitation. The addition of reduced TiO(2) powder increases both the ultrasonication energy that is consumed in water and the destruction efficiency of 1,4-dioxane.