Direct immersion ultrasonic horn

Fig. 9. Direct immersion ultrasonic horn equipped for inert atmosphere work. [Design of K. S. Susiick (183). ...

Figure 2. Direct Immersion Ultrasonic Horn Equipped for Inert Atmosphere Work.

Ultrasonic irradiation of aqueous solutions of the chlorophenols was carried out with a Vibra Cell Model VC-250 direct immersion ultrasonic horn (Sonics Materials Newtown, CT) operated at a frequency of 20 kHz with a constant power output of 50 W (the actual insonation power at the solution was 49.5 W, and the power density was 52.1 W/cm2). Reactions were done in a glass sonication cell (4.4 cm i.d. by 10 cm), similar to the one described by Suslick (1988). The temporal course of the sonochemical processes was monitored by HPLC. 

Fig. 9. A typical sonochemical apparatus with direct immersion ultrasonic horn. Ultrasound can be easily introduced into a chemical reaction with good control of temperature and ambient atmosphere. The usual piezoelectric ceramic is PZT, a lead zirconate titanate ceramic. Similar designs for sealed...

Two major sources of ultrasound are employed, namely ultrasonic baths and ultrasonic immersion hom probes [79, 71]- The fonuer consists of fixed-frequency transducers beneath the exterior of the bath unit filled with water in which the electrochemical cell is then fixed. Alternatively, the metal bath is coated and directly employed as electrochemical cell, but m both cases the results strongly depend on the position and design of the set-up. The ultrasonic horn transducer, on the other hand, is a transducer provided with an electrically conducting tip (often Ti6A14V), which is inuuersed in a three-electrode thenuostatted cell to a depth of 1-2 cm directly facing the electrode surface. 

Since the ultrasonic radiating surface is not in direct contact with the reaction solution, the acoustic intensities are much lower than those of the direct immersion horn, and so homogeneous sonochemistry is often quite sluggish. On the other hand, there is no possibility of contamination from erosion of the titanium horn. 

Molecular oxygen is important for the sonolysis of S(-II) at alkaline pH because it propagates a free-radical chain reaction that is initiated by OH. Furthermore, the enhancement of oxygen transfer upon sonication with a direct-immersion horn is considerable. These results may have important implications for the application of ultrasonic irradiation for the destruction of chemical contaminants in water systems. 

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