The effect of solution level on calorific and dosimetric results in a 70kHz tower type sonochemical reactor

In order to design and optimise sonochemical reactors it is important to study the impact of liquid level, or path length, on the standing wave phenomena and the influence this has on temperature increase and OH radical rate of production. In this work, an ultrasonic tower type reactor operating at 70 kHz is investigated with results from variations to liquid levels reported. Calorimetry data was obtained using a modified reactor set up with temperature change monitored at selected points within the chamber. OH radical rate of formation was shown via chemical dosimetry, following the conversion of terephthalic acid (TA) to 2-hydroxyterephthalic acid (HTA). The results obtained have shown that changes in solution depth of a few millimetres significantly impacts on the interaction of the propagated and reflected waveforms with the results of calorific measurements and HTA rates of formation varying by 90% (750 J) and 88% (80 mmol dm-3 min-1) between the operational extremes over the studied depth range.