Degradation of bisphenol A and 4-tert-octylphenol: a comparison between ultrasonic and photocatalytic technique

Bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) are well-known endocrine disrupting compounds. Ultrasonic and photocatalytic degradation of BPA and OP were carried out by optimizing different parameters such as effects of the pH, ultrasonic frequency, power and the dosing amount of the sodium persulfate (oxidizer)/TiO2 photocatalyst. The results showed that the maximum ultrasonic degradation of BPA and OP was obtained at a pH value of 5, 45kHz frequency, 500W power and with sodium persulfate concentration ranging from 100 to 200mg/L under bubbling of air, whereas for photocatalytic degradation, maximum degradation was observed at a pH value of 5, and TiO2 dosing ranging from 50 to 150mg/L. Photocatalytic degradation was found to be more efficient and cost-effective than ultrasonic degradation.