Distribution of electrical energy consumption for the efficient degradation control of THMs mixture in sonophotolytic process

Sonophotolytic degradation of THMs mixture with different electrical energy ratio was carried out for efficient design of process. The total consumed electrical energy was fixed around 50 W, and five different energy conditions were applied. The maximum degradation rate showed in conditions of US:UV = 1:3 and US:UV = 0:4. This is because the photolytic degradation of bromate compounds is dominant degradation mechanism for THMs removal. However, the fastest degradation of total organic carbon was observed in a condition of US:UV = 1:3. Because hydrogen peroxide generated by sonication was effectively dissociated to hydroxyl radicals by ultraviolet, the concentration of hydroxyl radical was maintained high. This mechanism provided additional degradation of organics. This result was supported by comparison between the concentration of hydrogen peroxide sole and combined process. Consequently, the optimal energy ratio was US:UV = 1:3 for degradation of THMs in sonophotolytic process.