Synergy of combining sonolysis and photocatalysis in the degradation and mineralization of chlorinated aromatic compounds

Merits of using advanced oxidation processes such as sonolysis and photocatalysis as well as a combination of the two have been explored using model herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid and the chlorinated phenols 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Whereas sonolysis is quite effective in the initial degradation of chlorinated aromatic molecules, complete mineralization is difficult to achieve. Photocatalysis is selective toward the degradation of polar compounds but causes the build up of undesirable chemical intermediates. In contrast to sonolytic degradation, photocatalysis is very effective toward achieving complete mineralization. By simultaneously carrying out high-frequency sonolysis and photocatalysis we have succeeded in achieving faster and complete mineralization with no build up of toxic intermediates even at very low catalyst loadings. The synergy of combining the two advanced oxidation processes is discussed.