Optimization of sono-electrochemical oxidation of ibuprofen in wastewater

Abstract The decomposition of ibuprofen in synthetic solution and in municipal wastewater effluent was investigated using an electro-sonochemical reactor. The concept of coupling ultrasonication and electrooxidation (EO–US) treatment for ibuprofen removal was demonstrated. The degree of synergy was 5.26%. Several factors such as current intensity, ultrasound power, treatment time were investigated. A factorial experimental design was used for determining the influent parameters on the ibuprofen degradation. The current intensity and treatment time were the main influent parameters on the degradation rate. Using a 2 3 factorial matrix, the best performance of ibuprofen degradation (77% of removal) was obtained by selecting 40 W of ultrasound power, a current intensity of 5.0 A and a treatment time of 120 min. Subsequently, the optimal experimental parameters for ibuprofen degradation have been investigated by using a central composite methodology. Under these, optimal conditions determined by this method, EO–US can be applied to oxidize ibuprofen in municipal wastewater effluent (up to 90% of degradation) while using a current intensity of 4.09 A for a period of 110 min and by applying 20 W of ultrasound power.