Photolysis, Sonolysis, and Photosonolysis of Trichloroethane (TCA), Trichloroethylene (TCE), and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Without Catalyst

Photolysis, sonolysis, and photosonolysis of common groundwater contaminants, namely 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene, were investigated using a flow-through photosono reactor system. Simulated groundwater containing the chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was exposed to ultraviolet light (UV), ultrasonication (US), and UV and US concurrently (UVUS), without a photo catalyst. VOC removal efficiencies of the UV, US, and UVUS treatment processes were computed from the VOC concentrations in influent and effluent of the reactor. The process using UVUS exhibited larger degradation efficiencies than that with UV and US separately in most cases; however, statistical analysis showed that the UVUS treatment efficiency is likely to be additive of the UV and US treatment efficiencies. The results also showed that the increase of the detention time from 26 to 60 min had no significant effect on the VOC removal efficiencies in these processes.