Effect of sonication assisted by titanium dioxide and ferrous ions on polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxicity removals from a petrochemical industry wastewater in Turkey

BACKGROUND: In Izmir (Turkey) polyaromatic hydracarbon (PAH) removal efficiencies are low in petrochemical industry aerobic biological wastewater treatment plants because bacteria are not able to overcome the inhibition of these toxic and refractory organics. In order to increase PAHs removal, sonication process was chosen among other advanced treatment processes include sonication processes. The effects of ambient conditions, increasing sonication time, sonication temperature, TiO₂ and Fe⁺² concentrations on sonication at a petrochemical industry wastewater treatment plant in Izmir (Turkey) was investigated in a 650 W sonicator, at a frequency of 35 kHz and a 500 mL glass reactor. RESULTS: Increasing the temperature improved PAH removal after 150 min sonication at 30 °C and 60 °C. The maximum total PAH removal efficiencies were the same in a reactor containing 20 mg L^?1 TiO₂ and in a TiO₂‐free reactor at 30 °C and 60 °C after 150 min sonication. Maximum 91% and 97% total PAH removals were obtained in a control reactor and a reactor containing 20 mg L^?1 Fe⁺² at 30 °C and 60 °C, respectively, after 150 min sonication. The PAH concentration was toxic to Daphnia magna, so that the EC₅₀ value decreased significantly from 342.56 ng mL^?1 to EC₅₀ = 9.88 ng mL^?1 and to EC₅₀ = 3.35 ng mL^?1, at the lowest TiO₂ (0.1 mg L^?1) and Fe⁺² (2 mg L^?1) concentrations, respectively, after 150 min sonication at 30 °C. CONCLUSION: PAHs and the acute toxicity in a petrochemical industry wastewater were removed efficiently through sonication. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry