ultrahelitöötlust

Ultrahelitöötlus, also known as ultrasonic treatment or sonication, is a process that uses high-frequency sound waves to induce cavitation in a liquid medium. Cavitation involves the formation, growth, and implosive collapse of microscopic bubbles within the liquid. This collapse generates localized high pressures and temperatures, as well as intense shear forces and microjets. These effects can be harnessed for various applications.

In industry, ultrahelitöötlus is used for cleaning, degassing, emulsification, dispersion, and accelerating chemical reactions. For example, in cleaning applications, the microjets and shock waves generated by cavitation can effectively dislodge contaminants from surfaces. In chemistry, it can enhance reaction rates, improve yields, and facilitate the synthesis of nanomaterials.

In medicine, therapeutic ultrasound can be used for breaking down kidney stones (lithotripsy) or for targeted drug delivery. Diagnostic ultrasound, a related but distinct technology, uses sound waves to create images of internal body structures. Research is also ongoing into using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for non-invasive tumor ablation.

The frequency of ultrasound typically used in these treatments ranges from 20 kHz to several MHz. The intensity of the ultrasound, along with the properties of the liquid medium and the presence of dissolved gases, significantly influences the effectiveness of the cavitation process and the resulting effects. Careful control of these parameters is crucial for optimizing the desired outcome in any given application.