Kesan frekuensi rendah (20 kHz) penyinaran ultrasonik untuk penyingkiran Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonates (LAS) daripada larutan berair telah dikaji. Penyinaran ultrasonik terhadap tiga kepekatan berbeza LAS iaitu 500 μgmol/l, 750 μgmol/l and 1000 μgmol/l telah dijalankan. Kesemua eksperimen telah dijalankan pada suhu 30°C, pada frekuensi 20 kHz, kuasa pada 125 W dan masa eksperimen selama 120 minit tanpa pengawalan terhadap pH. Hasil kajian mendapati OH· radikal mendominasi proses pengdegradasian LAS. Kadar degradasi awal bertambah dengan bertambahnya kepekatan LAS di dalam skop kajian. Penghasilan H2O2 didapati rendah dengan proses penyinaran ultrasonik terhadap LAS pada kepekatan LAS yang tinggi. Keputusan penyinaran ultrasonik terhadap LAS dengan kehadiran Br¯ sebagai pemakan radikal membuktikan bahawa OH· radikal mendominasi pengdegradasian LAS.
Kata kunci: Surfaktan, ultrasonik, sisa air, jumlah karbon organik (TOC)
The effect of low frequency (20 kHz) ultrasonic irradiation on the removal of sodium Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonates (LAS) from aqueous solutions has been investigated. Sonication of three different initial concentrations of LAS, 500 μgmol/l, 750 μgmol/l and 1000 μgmol/l, were performed. All experiments used a temperature of 30°C, frequency of 20 kHz, power of 125 W, a batch time of 120 min and the pH was left uncontrolled. It was found that the main degradation of LAS at micromolar concentrations proceeded via a reaction with OH· radicals. The initial degradation rate increased with an increase in the surfactant concentration over the whole concentration range studied. The sonolysis of LAS showed a strong inhibition of H2O2 production at a higher concentration. Sonication of LAS in the presence of Br¯ suggested that OH· radicals induced degradation pathway was the dominating sonochemical degradation mechanism.
Key words: Surfactants, ultrasonic, wastewater, total organic carbon (TOC)
