The optimisation of ultrasonic cleaning procedures for dairy fouled ultrafiltration membranes

Ultrafiltration (UF) of whey is a major membrane based process in the dairy industry. However, commercialization of this application has been limited by membrane fouling, which has a detrimental influence on the permeation rate. There are a number of different chemical and physical cleaning methods currently used for cleaning a fouled membrane. It has been suggested that the cleaning frequency and the severity of such cleaning procedures control the membrane lifetime. The development of an optimal cleaning strategy should therefore have a direct implication on the process economics. Recently, the use of ultrasound has attracted considerable interest as an alternative approach to the conventional methods. In the present study, we have studied the ultrasonic cleaning of polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes fouled with dairy whey solutions. The effects of a number of cleaning process parameters have been examined in the presence of ultrasound and results compared with the conventional operation. Experiments were conducted using a small single sheet membrane unit that was immersed totally within an ultrasonic bath. Results show that ultrasonic cleaning improves the cleaning efficiency under all experimental conditions. The ultrasonic effect is more significant in the absence of surfactant, but is less influenced by temperature and transmembrane pressure. Our results suggest that the ultrasonic energy acts primarily by increasing the turbulence within the cleaning solution.     

Comparing cleaning effects of gas and vapor bubbles in ultrasonic fields

The dynamic actions of cavitation bubbles in ultrasonic fields can clean surfaces. Gas and vapor cavitation bubbles exhibit different dynamic behaviors in ultrasonic fields, yet little attention has been given to the distinctive cleaning effects of gas and vapor bubbles. We present an experimental investigation of surface cleaning by gas and vapor bubbles in an ultrasonic field. Using high-speed videography, we found that the primary motions of gas and vapor bubbles responsible for surface cleaning differ. Our cleaning tests under different contamination conditions in terms of contaminant adhesion strength and surface wettability reveal that vapor and gas bubbles are more effective at removing contaminants with strong and weak adhesion, respectively, and furthermore that hydrophobic substrates are better cleaned by vapor bubbles. Our study not only provides a better physical understanding of the ultrasonic cleaning process, but also proposes novel techniques to improve ultrasonic cleaning by selectively employing gas and vapor bubbles depending on the characteristics of the surface to be cleaned.     

超声波显像管振动清洗机的研制

本文介绍一种无需任何清洗液且有别于常规超声波清洗机理的超声波显像管振动清洗机。从理论上分析说明超声波干振动清洗的机理和方法，阐明各超声参量的选取标准和超声振动系统中应注意的问题。     

The ultrasonic cleaning process: its dependence on the energy density,time of action,temperature, and modulation of the sonic field

Objective evaluation of the efficiency of ultrasonic cleaning machines has hitherto been frustrated by the lack of suitable measuring processes for the quantitative determination of the degree of cleaning, and the acoustic energy existing in the bath. A method for obtaining reproducible measurements of the degree of cleaning and the effects of various parameters on the ultrasonic cleaning process are described. In particular, the relations between the energy density, the electrical power supplied to the ultrasonically excited tanks, and the degree of cleaning are discussed. Experiments carried out using different types of oscillation modulation show that optimal cleaning efficiency is achieved with a simple half-wave modulation form.     

超声清洗装置空化噪声谱分析法空化噪声级测量

空化强度是用以衡量液体介质中空化活动的剧烈程度,同时空化效应在超声清洗中起关键作用,因此,测量超声清洗槽中的空化强度便可了解其中空化活动的情况.当发生空化时,液体介质中会产生成分复杂空化噪声,对空化噪声谱进行分析和计算得到空化噪声级,据此可判断空化强度.实验测得结果表明:超声清洗装置内稳态空化分布广泛、均匀,瞬态空化分...     

超声波清洗设备的目前发展方向

超声波清洗设备的发展方向目前有二个：一个是从单缸机到多缸机或自动化的超声清洗生产线;另一个是,从低频超声清洗机到高频超声清洗机。     

超声清洗与激光预处理对减反膜阈值的影响

 研究了超声清洗和激光预处理两种后处理手段对减反膜的损伤特性的影响。采用电子束蒸发技术制备了1 064 nm减反膜，利用超声清洗及激光预处理的方法分别对样品进行处理，并对处理前后的样品分别进行激光损伤阈值测试及破斑深度测量。结果表明：处理后减反膜的损伤阈值均有所提升，但激光预处理的阈值增强效果更加明显；超声清洗前后的破斑深度没有大的变化，而激光预处理后的破斑深度比处理前浅得多；原因在于超声清洗只能去除表面杂质，激光预处理可减少和抑制膜层内较深处的缺陷。     

The ultrasonic decontamination of large surfaces

A mobile ultrasonic cleaning equipment has been developed for cleaning large areas of both flat and curved surfaces.     

用声波扩散改善清洗场中(小功率)声场的均匀性

本文使用亚甲基蓝水溶液经超声辐照,在铜版纸上真实记录了声场分布,实验中,通过设计新的清洗槽,达到改善声场分布的目的,实验结果表明,声场分布与容器的形状有关,同时也表明了扩散场比驻波场具有利于超声清洗。     

Ultrasound induced cleaning of polymeric nanofiltration membranes

Cleaning of the flat sheet nanofiltration membranes, using backflushing, chemical cleaning, and ultrasonication operated individually as well as in combination with chemicals, has been studied in the present work. Identical hydrophilic polyamide membranes were fouled individually using an aqueous solution containing a single dye, an aqueous solution containing a mixture of dyes, and a synthetically prepared petroleum refinery effluent. Effect of different parameters such as the concentration of cleaning solution, contact time, frequency, and power of ultrasound on the efficacy of membrane cleaning has been studied. Optimal cleaning was achieved under sonication conditions of frequency of 24 kHz and power dissipation of 135 W. It was demonstrated that application of sonication under optimum conditions without chemical agents, gave about 85% water flux recovery. In the case of combined chemical and ultrasonic treatment, it was clearly observed that the use of chemical agent increased the efficacy of ultrasonic cleaning. The hybrid method recovered the initial water flux to almost 90% based on the use of 1.0 M aqueous NaOH and 4 min of sonication. Overall, the use of aqueous NaOH in combination with sonication showed a better efficiency for cleaning than the individual processes thus demonstrating a new avenue for membrane cleaning.     

Visualization and minimization of disruptive bubble behavior in ultrasonic field

Although ultrasonic technology has been successfully adopted for semiconductor cleaning, a recent trend of extreme miniaturization of patterns calls for a novel process that can remove contaminant particles without damaging nanoscale patterns. Unstable bubble oscillations have been hypothesized to cause such surface damages, and here we show direct visualization results that a high acoustic pressure induces bubble instability leading to pattern damages. As a remedy for the conventional ultrasonic cleaning scheme, we introduce a novel cleaning system using dual transducers, in which one transducer generates bubbles with a high acoustic pressure in an acoustically isolated sub-chamber and the other drives the oscillation of bubbles around the cleaning area at a low acoustic pressure. The system is shown to achieve a high cleaning efficiency for submicron-sized particles while significantly suppressing the disruptive bubble instability thereby reducing the detachment of firmly attached nanoparticles. Comparison of the adhesion force of the firmly attached nanoparticles and the yield strength of nanopatterns allows us to anticipate that this scheme is capable of reducing damages of nanopatterns on semiconductor wafers and photomasks.     

Observations of water cavitation intensity under practical ultrasonic cleaning conditions

In the industrial cleaning processes either organic solvents or water solutions are used as the cleaning media. The primary causative factor of ultrasonic cleaning is cavitation. Below are presented results of investigations into the influence of temperature, gas content and the solution level in an ultrasonic cleaner on cavitation intensity in the tap water. Previous investigations have revealed a great deal of information on the influence of the above factors on the cavitation intensity and these are confirmed. It has now been found that the tap water reaches the highest cavitation intensity at temperatures below 20 degrees C but during heating at higher temperatures (20-40 degrees C) a second peak of cavitation intensity may appear-depending on the height of water in the bath and air content.     

Effect of ultrasound assisted cleaning on pesticide removal and quality characteristics of Vitis vinifera leaves

In this study, the pesticide (acetamiprid, deltamethrin, and pyridaben) removal and physicochemical quality improvement of vine (Vitis vinifera) leaf were examined using ultrasonic and traditional cleaning for 5, 10, and 15 min. After an ultrasonic cleaning procedure at 37 kHz for 10 min, acetamiprid, deltamethrin, and pyridaben in vine leaf were reduced by 54.76, 58.22, and 54.55 %, respectively. Furthermore, the total phenolic content (TPC) in vine leaf increased to 13.45 mg GAE/g DW compared to that in control samples using traditional cleaning (10.37 mg GAE/g DW), but there were no significant differences in DPPH radical scavenging activity. After 15 min of conventional cleaning, the total chlorophyll and total carotenoid content of leaves were found to be lowest among all samples, at 6.52 mg/kg and 0.48 mg/kg, respectively. In conclusion, when compared to conventional cleaning methods, ultrasonic cleaning with no chemicals or heat treatment has proven to be a successful and environmentally friendly application in reducing commonly used pesticides and improving the physicochemical qualities of leaves.     

Ultrasonic approach for surface nanostructuring

The review is about solid surface modifications by cavitation induced in strong ultrasonic fields. The topic is worth to be discussed in a special issue of surface cleaning by cavitation induced processes since it is important question if we always find surface cleaning when surface modifications occur, or vice versa. While these aspects are extremely interesting it is important for applications to follow possible pathways during ultrasonic treatment of the surface: (i) solely cleaning; (ii) cleaning with following surface nanostructuring; and (iii) topic of this particular review, surface modification with controllably changing its characteristics for advanced applications. It is important to know what can happen and which parameters should be taking into account in the case of surface modification when actually the aim is solely cleaning or aim is surface nanostructuring. Nanostructuring should be taking into account since is often accidentally applied in cleaning. Surface hydrophilicity, stability to Red/Ox reactions, adhesion of surface layers to substrate, stiffness and melting temperature are important to predict the ultrasonic influence on a surface and discussed from these points for various materials and intermetallics, silicon, hybrid materials. Important solid surface characteristics which determine resistivity and kinetics of surface response to ultrasonic treatment are discussed. It is also discussed treatment in different solvents and presents in solution of metal ions.     

光学元件超声清洗工艺研究

系统开展了光学元件超声清洗工艺的实验研究。通过研究超声清洗剂、清洗温度等工艺参数的优化,找到了能够有效祛除元件表面无机污染物和有机污染物的较佳超声清洗工艺,且超声清洗没有对光学元件表面产生损伤,清洗后的光学元件接触角小于6,并不残留大于1 m的颗粒,超声清洗对光学元件表面污染物的祛除能力远胜于手工清洗。     

Physical and chemical effects of acoustic cavitation in selected ultrasonic cleaning applications

Acoustic cavitation in a liquid medium generates several physical and chemical effects. The oscillation and collapse of cavitation bubbles, driven at low ultrasonic frequencies (e.g., 20 kHz), can generate strong shear forces, microjets, microstreaming and shockwaves. Such strong physical forces have been used in cleaning and flux improvement of ultrafiltration processes. These physical effects have also been shown to deactivate pathogens. The efficiency of deactivation of pathogens is not only dependent on ultrasonic experimental parameters, but also on the properties of the pathogens themselves. Bacteria with thick shell wall are found to be resistant to ultrasonic deactivation process. Some evidence does suggest that the chemical effects (radicals) of acoustic cavitation are also effective in deactivating pathogens. Another aspect of cleaning, namely, purification of water contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants, has also been discussed in detail. Strong oxidising agents produced within acoustic cavitation bubbles could be used to degrade organic pollutants and convert toxic inorganic pollutants to less harmful substances. The effect of ultrasonic frequency and surface activity of solutes on the sonochemical degradation efficiency has also been discussed in this overview.     

液体薄层中的超声空化*

液体薄层中的超声空化,因其边界及所处空间的特殊性,而呈现出非常独特的空化结构和演化行为,在超声清洗、超声钎焊、表面处理、近场声悬浮、超声化学等领域都有所应用。该文梳理了近几年该课题组在液体薄层中的超声空化研究中的一些成果,力图揭示液体薄层内空泡、空化云、空化场的运动和分布规律,及其产生、发展和演化过程,以期对液体薄层中的超声空化行为有一个相对清晰和完整的认识。     

换热器内超声空化效应影响因素数值研究

对超声波参数和换热器参数对超声波空化效应影响的研究,能够找出最佳的超声波参数使其防除垢效果更好。本文利用数值计算方法研究了超声波功率、频率和换热器内介质温度以及换热管的型式对超声空化的影响。结果表明,随着超声波功率的增大,水中汽含率也增大,而且变化也相对激烈;随着频率的增加汽含率先增大后降低,20 kHz为最佳频率;介质温度越高,空化效应越强烈;管径波动较多的波纹管更有利于空化效应的产生和发展。     

Technical aspects of ultrasonic cleaning

To a great extent, the cleaning fluid used determines the effectiveness of an ultrasonic cleaner. This article describes experiments for identifying cavitation and determining its distribution so that the workpiece can be put in the right position in the tank. Viscosity, surface tension and vapour pressure of a liquid decide whether it has good cavitating properties, and it is important to choose the right solvent for each cleaning task. Greasy, dust-covered and oxidized surfaces are each cleaned best with a particular range of solvents     

Large-scale ultrasonic cleaning system: Design of a multi-transducer device for boat cleaning (20kHz)

The present study is part of a global project which consists in the development of an automatic cleaning station for immersed boats (cockle, ninepin, etc.) in a self-service mode, associating an innovative ultrasonic device for cleaning with a specific water treatment. The originality of the process is that cleaning is performed by three transducers operating simultaneously at low frequency and moving along the surface, thanks to programmable logic controllers, and that it includes a suction to collect the dirt removed. Therefore, the time required for boat maintenance is shortened, ensuring high quality cleaning without the need for dry docks and avoiding additional pollution in the harbor areas. One of the key points was the evaluation of washing efficiency, as it is really hard to give a quantitative estimation of the dirt removed. To obtain the first design laws, feasibility tests have been carried out on dirty cockle samples and on real boat hulls with a laboratory ultrasonic device. The influence of a large number of parameters was tested such as transducer-probe distance, displacement speed and transmitted power. The obtained data allowed us to design an optimized cleaning device combining high efficiency and speed.