The application of hydrodynamic cavitation technology and the synergistic effect of hybrid advanced oxidation processes: a review

ABSTRACT

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) technology induces the formation and rupture of cavitation bubbles through changes in pressure. These processes create localized high-temperature, high-pressure environments and strongly oxidative free radicals. This paper introduces the mechanism of HC. It elaborates on the standalone applications of various hydrodynamic cavitation reactors in specific fields. This study reveals the coupling mechanism of HC with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as ozone (O3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), photocatalysis and Fenton method. The HC-O3 integrated system has demonstrated remarkable economic efficiency in wastewater treatment. Compared with the single HC process, the operating cost is reduced by 75%, confirming the economy of the ozonation co-treatment process. The HC-photocatalytic coupled system achieved 78.2% tetracycline removal efficiency, representing nearly twice the sum of individual HC (12.2%) and photocatalytic (28.1%) treatment efficiencies. This fully verifies the high efficiency of the technological synergy effect. Although the HC-AOPs coupling technology is both efficient and economical, there are still bottlenecks in its energy utilization rate (<15%) and large-scale application. Future research could optimize reactor design to enhance system efficiency. Simultaneously, advancing integrated innovation across multiple technologies will create synergistic effects. HC-AOPs technology is emerging as a promising solution for environmental remediation and green industrial treatment.