Ultrasonic Cell Disrupters, also called Sonicators or Sonifiers® operate on a different principle than mechanical shear homogenizers.  They are extremely effective on hard to disrupt samples and for producing smaller particle size distribution within a sample.  Some of the samples that are typically sonicated or sonified are bacteria, spores, tough animal tissue, soil samples, nanostructures, and liposomes.

There are three main components of a laboratory Ultrasonic Homogenizer; an electronic generator which provides the power, a transducer which converts the signal to mechanical energy and a horn or probe where the processing takes place.

The electronic generator which located in the base of the unit gets its power from an AC line.  The generator transforms this electrical power to a 20 KHz signal that drives the transducer or converter. This signal is outside of normal human hearing ranges so it is not audible in this form of energy.

In my last blog I wrote that I would be back with some Ultrasonic Homogenizer Applications and here I am, back again, trying to fill the Ultrasonic void.

Although Ultrasonic Homogenization is most widely known for disruption of cells and tissue, there are many other uses for it that covers a wide range of applications.

Emulsifications

Water in oil emulsions are well suited for sonication because there is little danger of the sample being ruined by inversion and the process is considerably faster than traditional mixing methods.  The cosmetic industry uses Ultrasonic Homogenization for liquid make-up in order to disperse the pigments uniformly.  It is also widely used by lotion and toothpaste manufacturers as the final product has a much longer shelf life and is a higher quality product.

Environmental

Sonication is used in environmental testing labs for testing of water, soil and sediment samples.  Testing that was done prior to Ultrasonic Homogenization was very time consuming and required high volumes of solvents.

Many customers who are just starting to investigate laboratory homogenization techniques call us and ask what the difference is between Ultrasonic Homogenization and Mechanical Shear or Rotor/Stator Homogenization.  As we offer both products, it is fairly simple for us to meet the requirements of all the customers whether they need sonication or mechanical shear technology.  Although you may be able to get similar results from both ultrasonic and mechanical homogenizers, the way they create the energy to process the sample is different and can have distinctive effects on the sample and the end result.

Ultrasonic homogenization is created by power that is supplied by electrical energy that is transferred to a probe, usually titanium, where it is converted to mechanical energy.  This mechanical energy shows up as longitudinal vibrations at the tip of the probe.  Once the energy reaches the tip it causes microscopic vapor bubbles that implode and cause shock waves throughout the sample that cause the processing effect or what is called cavitation.