Homogenization cavitation

In 1981, the first report on the sonochemistry of discrete organometallic complexes demonstrated the effect of ultrasound on iron carbonyls in alkane solutions (174). The transition metal carbonyls were chosen for these initial studies because their thermal and photochemical reactivities have been well characterized. The comparison among the thermal, photochemical, and sonochemical reactions of Fe(CO)5 provides an excellent example of the unique chemistry which homogeneous cavitation can... 

In order to induce substantial distortions during bubble collapse, the solid surface must be several times larger than the resonance bubble size at 20 kHz, jet formation becomes important if the solid particles are larger than 200 /u.m. For smaller particles, the shockwaves created by homogeneous cavitation can create high-velocity interparticle collisions, as discussed later. 

Sonochemistry can be roughly divided into categories based on the nature of the cavitation event homogeneous sonochemistry of hquids, heterogeneous sonochemistry of hquid—hquid or hquid—sohd systems, and sonocatalysis (which overlaps the first two) (12—15). In some cases, ultrasonic irradiation can increase reactivity by nearly a million-fold (16). Because cavitation can only occur in hquids, chemical reactions are not generaUy seen in the ultrasonic irradiation of sohds or sohd-gas systems. 

Pump Suction. The net positive suction head required (NPSHR) affects the resistance on the suction side of the pump. If it drops to or near the vapor pressure of the fluid being handled, cavitation and loss of performance occurs (13). The NPSHR is affected by temperature and barometric pressure and is of most concern on evaporator CIP units where high cleaning temperatures might be used. A centrifugal booster pump may be installed on a homogenizer or on the intake of a timing pump to prevent low suction pressures. 

Generation Spontaneous generation of gas bubbles within a homogeneous liquid is theoreticaUy impossible (Bikerman, Foams Theoiy and Industrial Applications, Reinhold, New York, 1953, p. 10). The appearance of a bubble requires a gas nucleus as avoid in the liquid. The nucleus may be in the form of a small bubble or of a solid carrying adsorbed gas, examples of the latter being dust particles, boiling chips, and a solid wall. A void can result from cavitation, mechan-ic ly or acoustically induced. Blander and Katz [AlChE J., 21, 833 (1975)] have thoroughly reviewed bubble nucleation in liquids. 

A second problem in these studies concerns cavitation dynamics on the nanometer length scale [86]. If sufficiently energetic, the ultrafast laser excitation of a gold nanoparticle causes strong nonequilibrium heating of the particle lattice and of the water shell close to the particle surface. Above a threshold in the laser power, which defines the onset of homogeneous nucleation, nanoscale water bubbles develop around the particles, expand, and collapse again within the first nanosecond after excitation (Fig. 9). The size of the bubbles may be examined in this way. 

On a laboratory scale, generally an ultrasonic probe (horn) and an ultrasonic cleaner are used. The ultrasonic field in an ultrasonic cleaner is not homogeneous. Sonication extraction uses ultrasonic frequencies to disrupt or detach the target analyte from the matrix. Horn type sonic probes operate at pulsed powers of 400-600 W in the sample solvent container. Ultrasonic extraction works by agitating the solution and producing cavitation in the... 

In order to understand the way in which cavitational collapse can affect chemical transformations [5-7], one must consider the possible effects of this collapse in different systems. In the case of homogeneous systems, there are two major effects. 

High pressure homogenizers are especially suitable for the emulsification processes in the food, pharmaceutical and bioprocess industries. A general disadvantage of these type of reactors is that there is no precise control over the cavitationally active volume and the magnitude of the pressure pulses that will be generated at the end of the cavitation events (cavitational intensity), unless the valve seat designs are substantially modified. 

Acoustic cavitation can be considered to involve at least three discrete stages nucleation, bubble growth, and, under proper conditions, implosive collapse. The dynamics of cavity growth and collapse are strikingly dependent on local environment we therefore will consider separately cavitation in a homogeneous liquid and cavitation near a liquid-solid interface. 

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