Sonolysis overview

Ultrasonic tank

Bubbles

form

Reaching

unstable size

Compression

Expansion

Generator

1

2

Cavitation bubbles

grow, thought to

initiate from dissolved

gases and impurities

in the liquid

Ultrasound waves are

transmitted through

a liquid, causing

waves of molecular

compression and

expansion

Bubbles implode

Reactive species

Wave

Pollutants

3

4

Bubbles collapse during

the compression cycle.

High temperature and

pressure conditions inside

the bubble can degrade

volatile pollutants

The collapse conditions

produce reactive species

that can degrade

non-volatile pollutants

at the bubble surface

and in the bulk solution

Ultrasonic tank

Bubbles

form

Reaching

unstable size

Bubbles implode

Reactive species

Compression

Expansion

Wave

Pollutants

Generator

1

2

3

4

Cavitation bubbles

grow, thought to

initiate from dissolved

gases and impurities

in the liquid

Bubbles collapse during

the compression cycle.

High temperature and

pressure conditions inside

the bubble can degrade

volatile pollutants

Ultrasound waves are

transmitted through

a liquid, causing

waves of molecular

compression

and expansion

The collapse conditions

produce reactive species

that can degrade

non-volatile pollutants

at the bubble surface

and in the bulk solution