Degradation of pentachlorophenol aqueous solutions using a continuous flowultrasonic reactor: experimental performance and modelling

The degradation of aqueous solutions of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in a three- stage sonochemical reactor operating in the continuous flow mode has been i nvestigated. The experimental reactor may be considered as a series of thre e high-frequency ultrasonic units. The influence of several parameters such as ultrasonic power, reactor volume and volumetric feed how rate on the re actor performance is reported. Application of classical basic chemical engi neering principles leads to a model that enables us to predict the PCP conc entration within the reactor. In steady state, experimental conversion rate s are shown to be in good agreement with model predictions. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.