Ultrasonic destruction of surfactants
Slimane Merouani, Aissa Dehane, Oualid Hamdaoui
Abstract
This study investigates the effectiveness of ultrasonic (US) treatment in removing and mineralizing surfactants in wastewater. It examines the complex mechanisms and variables (acoustic conditions, solution temperature, initial dose, etc.) that affect sonolytic processes. The effect of water matrix components (such as salts and the presence of secondary pollutants) on process performance is thoroughly investigated. Various treatments are analyzed through a detailed comparison of synergistic hybridization processes. The study also provides a comprehensive review of current environmental applications and explores potential directions for surfactant degradation using ultrasound. Insightful information is presented to advance sustainable wastewater treatment techniques. The literature review clearly reveals the promising future of sonotreatment for degrading various surfactants under different conditions. The use of multifrequency mechanisms and the integration of other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) with the US process have significantly enhanced the energy efficiency of the sonochemical system. Additionally, the results highlight the need to focus on developing new sonoreactor designs, identifying degradation intermediates, and hybridizing the sonochemical system under innovative operating conditions.