Understanding the Physics of Advanced Oxidation in a Venturi Reactor

Abstract

This paper is part of a research activity concerning theoretical and experimental studies of cavitation as an Advanced Oxidation Process in a convergent-divergent nozzle. The capability and peculiarities of this technology in degrading organic pollutants in water effluents are addressed by theoretical and experimental studies. Dosimetry methods for estimation of hydroxyl radical production are carried out through p-nitrophenol degradation. Additionally, for investigating the phenomenology of Venturi oxidation, a mathematical algorithm is proposed, which couples a microscopic approach (on single bubble dynamic with chemical reactions) with a macroscopic one (nucleation of bubbles’ clouds). Experimental evidences agree with numerical ones in identifying an optimum level of inlet fluid pressure, in producing the highest experimental removal rate and the highest theoretical radicals’ production.