Ultrasonic Destruction of Surfactants: Application to Industrial Wastewaters

Surfactants can interfere with wastewater treatment by binding to metals and by disrupting polymer flocculation processes. This research focused on the use of sonication to destroy surfactants in industrial wastewaters that affect traditional water treatment processes. Sonication involves using sound waves to produce heat in a liquid medium, leading to a chemical reaction. The researchers found that sonochemical degradation was more effective in surfactants than in nonsurfactant compounds. Using sonication to partially or totally destroy surfactants could result in a significant cost savings for treatment plants.Published by WERF. 50 pages. Softcover.

Originally funded as WERF project 99-CTS-2ET.