Ultrasonic power improvement of flumequine degradation effectiveness in aqueous solution via direct and indirect action of mechanical acoustic wave

Abstract The current research work aimed to describe the roles of ultrasonic power under sono-Fenton process in the degradation of flumequine (FLU) in water. For this purpose, the effects of some parameters including temperature, ferrous ion concentration, chemical oxidant concentration (S 2 O 8 2− and Cl − ) and the initial pH value of the reaction kinetics were investigated. Results showed that the degradation of FLU antibiotic was accelerated by ultrasonic irradiation and the presence of an inorganic oxidant. The sono-generation of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (HO and HOO ) and sulfate radicals (SO 4 − ) as strong oxidizing agents improved the FLU degradation. In fact, the peroxydisulfate anion (S 2 O 8 2− ) has been identified as among parameters that enhanced the degradation process. Under optimal conditions, 98% of the flumequine removal was carried out within 80 min at 60 °C.