Designing a Batch Experimental Setup to Investigate the Kinetics of Methylene Blue Degradation in Water Using Radiofrequency-Induced Electromagnetic Fields

This study describes a novel radiofrequency-induced electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) batch reactor design specifically for degrading water contaminants and thoroughly discusses the design parameters. The RF-EMF setup was evaluated for its ability to degrade methylene blue (MB) at two frequencies (1.5 and 2 MHz) and three amplitudes (1, 2, and 2.5 Vpp). The 2 MHz frequency and 2.5 Vpp amplitude resulted in 10% MB degradation, likely due to the alignment of MB’s polarization region with 2 MHz, leading to the breakdown of its molecular bonds. The kinetics analysis indicated that MB degradation under these conditions followed a first-order reaction, with a rate constant nearly four times higher than the control sample. Additionally, combining RF-EMF with Fenton reactions enhanced MB degradation, increasing the first-order rate constant by 1.6 times compared to the control samples. These results support the knowledge that RF-EMF thermally activates ferromagnetic substances, increasing hydroxyl radical generation in the Fenton process. The findings presented in this study are preliminary, and further exploration of RF-EMF’s potential in various contexts is necessary to understand its application for water treatment. Future research should focus on optimizing RF-EMF parameters and experimental validation of the degradation mechanisms by RF-EMF for water pollutant removal.