Physical insight into the sonochemical degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol

In this study, we have attempted to reveal the physical or mechanistic features of the sonochemical degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The principal physical phenomenon underlying sonochemical effects is radial motion of cavitation bubbles and production of radicals from transient collapse of these bubbles. We reveal some important physical facets of sonochemical degradation of 2,4-DCP by adopting dual approach of coupling experimental results with simulations of radial motion of cavitation bubble. First, the location of the degradation is predominantly the interfacial region between bubble and bulk medium, and secondly, the extent of degradation is controlled by conservation - and not the production - of oxidizing radicals that affects the probability of radical-pollutant interaction.