Sonochemical degradation of textile dyes in aqueous solution using sulphate radicals activated by immobilized cobalt ions

Decolorisation of dye solutions by cobalt activated persulphate and ultrasonication has been investigated. Rhodamine B, Methylene Blue dye (basic dyes) and Acid orange II, Acid scarlet red 3R (acid dyes) were used as model compounds in this study. Immobilized cobalt ions, activated the persulphate to form highly reactive sulphate radicals. The degradation studies were conducted with only persulphate (PS), cobalt activated persulphate (PS + Co), persulphate + ultrasonication (PS + US) and cobalt activated persulphate + ultrasonication (PS + US + Co). The decolorisation efficiency were in the order of PS < PS + Co < PS + US < PS + US + Co for all the four dye solutions. The effect of pH, dosage of persulphate as well as catalyst and contact time was investigated. Under the optimum condition, the decolorisation obeyed first-order kinetics. Nearly 90–97% of decolorisation was achieved with COD and TOC removal of about 65–73% and 53–62%, respectively, were achieved within an hour.