Destruction of formic acid using high frequency cup horn reactor

Degradation of formic acid has been studied in a high frequency cup horn type reactor with an aim of understanding the effect of operating parameters on the destruction efficiency. The methodology used in the work serves as a useful guideline for the optimization exercise for the sonochemical reactors to establish a set of operating parameters at large scale operation for achieving maximum efficiency. Firstly energy efficiency of the reactor has been established as a function of the operating volume with an aim of optimization of the capacity of the reactor for maximum extent of degradation. It has been observed that maximum transfer of supplied power is obtained at 300 ml capacity and hence the actual degradation studies have been performed with this operational capacity. The effect of time of irradiation, initial concentration of the pollutant, stirrer speed, presence of sodium sulfite (to scavenge the initial dissolved oxygen) on the extent of degradation has been investigated. Maximum extent of degradation has been observed under the conditions of 500 mg/l initial concentration, 200 rpm stirrer speed and presence of initial dissolved oxygen (no sodium sulfite in the system). Process intensification studies have been carried out using sodium chloride over a range of initial concentration and it has been observed that maximum extent of degradation of formic acid is obtained at 4% NaCl concentration. Comparison has been also made with different sonochemical configurations operating at lower frequency of irradiation (typically in the range of 20–50 kHz) with an aim of comparing the efficacies of the reactor at equivalent power consumption.