The sonochemical (850 kHz) Cr(VI) reduction (0.30 mM, pH 2) in the presence of citric acid (Cit, 2 mM) was analyzed under different working atmospheres: reactor open to air without sparging (ROAWS), and Ar, O2, air and N2 sparging. Hydrogen peroxide formation in pure water at pH 2 and KI dosimetry were also measured. Zero-order kinetics was observed in all cases. A complete Cr(VI) reduction after 180 min insonation was obtained with the ROAWS and under Ar, while a lower Cr(VI) reduction efficiency was achieved under the other conditions. The Cr(VI) reduction and H2O2 formation rates followed the order ROAWS ≅ Ar > air ≅ O2 ≫ N2, while for KI dosimetry the order was ROAWS ≫ O2 ≅ air > Ar ≫ N2. This indicates that H2O2 formation rate is a better measure of the system reactivity for Cr(VI) reduction. For air, O2 and N2, once the sparging was stopped, Cr(VI) reduction rate increased up to approximately the same value obtained for the ROAWS, suggesting that the sparging decreased the generation of reactive species and, thus, the Cr(VI) reduction rate. Nitrate production was measured at low concentrations (micromolar range) in the ROAWS, air and N2 systems. Formic and acetic acids were detected as Cit degradation products. Reaction mechanisms were proposed. It can be concluded that the best condition for Cr(VI) removal is with the ROAWS because of a higher Cr(VI) reduction rate, no atmosphere control is required, and it is a less expensive system.
Keywords: Citric acid; Cr(VI) sonochemical reduction; Effect of different gases; H(2)O(2) sonochemical formation; KI dosimetry.
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