Sono-oxidation treatment of humic substances in drinking water

Currently humic substances are removed from the raw water prior to chlorination by the conventional coagulation and filtration method using aluminium sulphate. Application of high-intensity (>10 W/cm2) ultrasonic irradiation in conjunction with oxidative process using commercial oxidants H2O2 was investigated as an alternative. Sono-oxidation and sonodegradation of natural and synthetic humic substances have been followed over time by measuring total organic carbon (TOC) and absorbance by ultraviolet spectrometer (UV–VIS). It took approximately 60 min to reduce TOC by half and to have a complete degradation of humic acid.