Use of ultrasound in monitoring chemical contamination in water

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:230987

Poziomek, E J; Orzechowska, G E ^[1]; Engelmann, W H ^[2]

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1. Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2. Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV (United States). Environmental Monitoring Systems Lab.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been examining the potential of combining sonication with other technologies for monitoring specific classes of organic pollutants in water. Pollutants are decomposed into ions which can be detected using known electrochemical techniques. An increase in concentration of the target ion after sonication indicates the presence of the pollutant. This paper presents additional results on the use of sonochemistry in monitoring carbon tetrachloride (CCl{sub 4}), chloroform (CHCl{sub 3}), and Cl{sub 2}CCHCl (trichloroethylene)(TCE) in water. Relationships were examined for changes in chloride ion and pH upon sonication versus concentration of the individual organochlorine pollutants. Another issue deals with the effect of various humic acids (at different concentrations) on changes in Cl{sup {minus}}, pH, and conductivity, as a result of sonicating solutions of the pollutants. Linear relationships with excellent correlation coefficients were found between increases of Cl{sup {minus}} (after sonication) and 3--80 ppm concentrations of CCl{sub 4}, CHCl{sub 3}, and TCE in water. The pH was found to decrease in all cases, and the relationships were nonlinear. Three different humic acids were examined in concentrations up to 400 ppm for effects on Cl{sup {minus}} yield, pH changes, and conductivity changes. There were no differences in Cl{sup {minus}} yield relative to control solutions of chlorinated hydrocarbons in deionized water. However, conductivity and pH changes were much smaller.

• OSTI ID: 230987
• Report Number(s): CONF-950209--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLOROFORM
DATA
GROUND WATER
MONITORING
PH VALUE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
ULTRASONOGRAPHY
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION