Degradation synergism between sonolysis and photocatalysis for organic pollutants with different hydrophobicity: A perspective of mechanism and application for high mineralization efficiency

Abstract Despite extensive studies, the fundamental understanding of synergistic mechanisms between sonolysis and photocatalysis for the abatement of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remains uncertain. As different phases formed under ultrasound irradiation, hydrophilic POPs, sulfamethoxazole (SMX, Kow: 0.89), predominantly resides in bulk liquid and is ineffectively degraded by sonolysis (kUS=3.33×10-3 min-1) since 98% POPs and >96% total organic carbon (TOC) removal.