Modeling the oxidation kinetics of sono-activated persulfate’s process on the degradation of humic acid

•90% mineralization of humic acid is obtained using combined ultrasound/persulfate process.•New kinetic model based on sulfate radicals is established to describe reaction process.•New model have good agreement with experiments data. Ultrasound degradation of humic acid has been investigated in the presence of persulfate anions at ultrasonic frequency of 40kHz. The effects of persulfate anion concentration, ultrasonic power input, humic acid concentration, reaction time, solution pH and temperature on humic acid removal efficiency were studied. It is found that up to 90% humic acid removal efficiency was achieved after 2h reaction. In this system, sulfate radicals (SO4−) were considered to be the mainly oxidant to mineralize humic acid while persulfate anion can hardly react with humic acid directly. A novel kinetic model based on sulfate radicals (SO4−) oxidation was established to describe the humic acid mineralization process mathematically and chemically in sono-activated persulfate system. According to the new model, ultrasound power, persulfate dosage, solution pH and reaction temperature have great influence on humic acid degradation. Different initial concentration of persulfate anions and humic acid, ultrasonic power, initial pH and reaction temperature have been discussed to valid the effectiveness of the model, and the simulated data showed new model had good agreement with the experiments data.