The sonochemical decomposition of alachlor in a batch reactor was investigated.
Alachlor was irradiated with ultrasound at an input power of 128 Watts with oxygen or ozone (1
mg-L-1 in solution) as a sparge gas. The frequency of ultrasonic irradiation was varied between
205, 358, 618, and 1071 kHz. A frequency of 358 kHz gave the highest degradation rate
constant (0.098 ± 0.003 min-1) with oxygen as the sparge gas. Ozone alone decomposed alachlor
as quickly as sonication at 1071 kHz (k ozone = 0.045 ± 0.004 min-1). The fastest decomposition
achieved was with the combination of ozone and sonication at either 358 or 618 kHz (average k
= 0.229 ± 0.006 min-1). The addition of humic acids to the system slightly inhibited the
decomposition of alachlor. Several organic intermediates of alachlor sonolysis were identified
by GC/MS, including 2,6-diethylaniline and 2-chloro-2',6'-diethylacetanilide. Chlorine recovery
was approximately 70 % when sonication and ozonation were combined, indicating that
mineralization of the chlorinated portion of alachlor was faster than with either technology alone. Includes 35 references, table, figures.