Enhanced and Sustainable Removal of Methylene Blue from Wastewater using Cavitation Approach

IJEP 46(3): 236-271 : Vol. 46 Issue. 3 (March 2026)

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Gayatri Darandale1, B.M. Shinde2*, Vividha K. Landge3, A. R. Warade4 and R.W. Gaikwad5

1. Sanjivani College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar – 423 603, Maharastra, India
2. Sanjivani College of Engineering Kopargaon, Department of Structural Engineering, Ahmednagar – 423 603, Maharastra, India
3. Padmashri Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Institute of Technology and Engineering (Polytechnic), Department of Chemical Engineering, Pravaranagar (Loni) – 413 736, Maharastra, India
4. Pravara Rural Engineering College, Department of Chemical Engineering, Loni, Ahmednagar – 413 736, Maharastra, India
5. Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aurangabad – 431 003, Maharastra, India

Abstract

The complicated structure of Methylene Blue (MB) makes it reluctant to separate from contaminated water. Methylene Blue, being an organic dye, has higher structural stability, which requires more energy to degrade. The release of these dyes into the environment is a major global concern. The sustainable cavitation approach, in which formation, nourishment and collapse of cavities in contaminated wastewater occur, results in significant MB degradation. The effects of various parameters, such as the initial concentration of MB and pH of contaminated solvent, were observed. The impact on the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater was reported under different operating conditions during hydrodynamic cavitation (HC). The high-energy hot spots developed during cavitation produce highly reactive hydroxyl and hydrogen radicals due to water splitting reactions. These radicals aid in breaking down MB’s complex structure into simpler components. A maximum MB degradation of 18% was achieved at pH 10 after 120 min. The degradation rate decreases as initial dye concentration increases; with a 120-min HC cycle, a maximum degradation of 29% was observed at an initial dye concentration of 40 ppm. The maximum BOD and COD removal achieved was 84.6% and 84.9%, respectively, in 120 min. The study reveals a sustainable approach for removing MB from contaminated water.

Keywords

Hydrodynamic cavitation, dye degradation, Methylene blue, Biochemical oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand

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