Removal of reactive dyes from textile wastewater using sonochemical process: effective parameters study

Large amounts of wastewater containing organic and inorganic chemicals from different sources enter the environment, each year. Given the importance of preserving public health andenvironment, efficient technologies like Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) should be noted. Ultrasound is an AOP and used as an efficient technology to remove pollutants in recent years.This study aimed to evaluate sonolysis for removing reactive dyes from textile wastewater. This experimental laboratory study utilized composite sampling from textile wastewater for24 hours. First, raw wastewater characteristics were determined. Then, an undivided cell with a volume of 250 ml was used for 200 ml sample of textile wastewater to investigate theSonochemical process. Given the variables, 48 samples were calculated. An ultrasonic bath (power=50 W, frequency=28 kHz) was used. The test results showed that the efficiency of dye removal is increased with decreasing pH and increasing catalyst concentration and retention time. Also, the optimal conditions for effective parameters on the process were obtained such as pH=2, air flow rate of 1 liter per minute, the catalyst concentration 3 mM and retention time 240 minutes at a frequency of 28 kHz and input voltage 50 W. Under these conditions, the efficiency of dye removal was obtained 42.5. According to the results, sonolysis (frequency=28 kHz and power=50 W) can be used as pretreatment to analyze resistant pollutants. Sonolysis is better to be used in combination with other advanced oxidation methods.