SONOLYTIC DESTRUCTION OF ESTROGEN HORMONES IN WATER USING ULTRASOUND IRRADIATION

The goal of this work is to examine the technical feasibility of ultrasonic irradiation to degrade steroid estrogens in water and wastewater. Two sonication units are tested: a 0.6 kW and a 2 kW unit. Estrogen concentrations were measured using a GC/MS based analytical method with solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by derivatization using bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide containing 1% trimethylchlorosilane. Both ultrasound power sources show that degradation of estrogens is possible and effective. About 65% removal of total estrogen concentration from wastewater is observed in 120 minutes of reaction time using the 0.6 kW unit; and about 95% removal was observed in 26 minutes using the 2 kW unit in clean water. This paper also presents results on following process variables on estrogen destruction: chemical concentration, power, surface area of sonication tip, fluid pressure and pH.