Significance of Acoustic and Hydrodynamic Cavitations in Enhancing Ozone Mass Transfer

Abstract

Assessment of both acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitations for intensifying ozone mass transfer was conducted simultaneously. Four process schemes were arranged to evaluate the effect of application of each kind of cavitation as well as both of them, on the ozone mass transfer process. All processes were conducted at pH of 3 to avoid ozone natural self-decomposition initiated by hydroxide ions (OH−). The chemical and mechanical effects of cavitation were distinguished by using radical scavengers to suppress radical formation. The result showed that hydrodynamic and acoustic cavitations enhanced ozone mass transfer synergistically. The enhancement obtained from the acoustic cavitation was higher than that obtained from the hydrodynamic cavitation, and the chemical effects of cavitation were much significant than that of mechanical effects. The enhancement obtained due to chemical effects of cavitation was about twice the enhancement obtained due to mechanical effects when only one type of cavitation was combined with ozonation. Combination of both type of cavitation and ozonation gave the enhancement obtained due to chemical effect of 3.68 times that obtained due to mechanical effects.