Cavitation-induced pyrolysis of toxic chlorophenol by high-frequency ultrasonic irradiation

p-Chlorophenol (4-CP) is a recalcitrant organic pollutant that is biologically toxic in industrial wastewater. A high-frequency ultrasonic device operated at 1.7 MHz was designed and used successfully to degrade 4-CP. Iodine liberation in the KI aqueous solution confirmed that effective cavitation occurred under the high-frequency ultrasonic irradiation. No products or intermediate products were detected following the sonochemical degradation by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum and mass spectrum after ultrasonic irradiation. It was concluded that the dominant degradation mechanism was high-temperature pyrolysis to inorganic products in ultrasonic cavities rather than free-radical oxidation.