Desorption by ultrasound: Phenol on activated carbon and polymeric resin

Abstract An experimental feasibility study of using ultrasound to accomplish the dificult desorption of phenol from activated carbon and polymeric resin adsorbents is discussed. The desorption rates of activated carbon were found to significantly increase by ultrasound at 40 kHz and 1.44 MHz. Attrition of the activated carbon due to cavitation could be prevented by operating at a higher frequency and with an intensity below the threshold of the pulverization of carbon. According to the structural stability study of Amberlite XAD‐4 and Dowex Optipore L‐493 resins to withstand the abrasive cavitational effects of ultrasound at 40 kHz, the Dowex Optipore resin was stable under experimental conditions and phenol desorption rates were enhanced significantly with sonication. The ultrasonic desorption rates were favored by decreased temperature, aerated liquid medium, and increased ultrasound intensity. The desorption rates obtained without ultrasound appeared to be limited by pore diffusion, whereas those obtained in the presence of ultrasound were limited by surface reaction. The rate enhancement was due to an increase in diffusive transport within the pores caused by acoustic vortex microstreaming. The activation energy for desorption decreased with an increase in ultrasonic power density, thus making the ultrasound weaken the adsorption bond.