Kinetic model for the sonochemical degradation of monocyclic aromatic compounds in aqueous solution: new insights

The kinetic model of De Visscher et al. [J. Phys. Chem. 100 (1996) 11636] for the sonochemical degradation of apolar monocyclic aromatic compounds in aqueous solution is based on a large number of assumptions, some of which have never been stated explicitly. An example is a homogeneous temperature of cavitation. The present study focuses on those “hidden assumptions”, and reveals that some of them are not realistic. It is shown that an entirely different set of assumptions leads to essentially the same mathematical formulation of the kinetics. The old and new version of the model can be considered as limiting cases which envelope the real conditions of ultrasonic cavitation chemistry. However, the new model does not lead to the inconsistencies experienced with the old model.