Sonolyzer™ Ultrasound Sludge Disintegrator

Ultrasound is present in a wide range of intensities in frequencies beyond human hearing (20KHz or more).

In a medium like water, sound propagation is accomplished through waves exhibiting a continuous transition through the medium in a two-phase pattern: rarefaction (negative pressure) and compression (positive pressure). During these alternating cycles, the magnitude of negative pressure in the areas of rarefaction eventually becomes sufficient to cause the liquid to fracture, causing cavitation.

Cavitation is the rapid creation, growth and collapse by implosion of microscopic bubbles. The collapse and implosion of a myriad of cavitation “bubbles” through an ultrasonically activated liquid produces the cavitation effect commonly associated with ultrasonics.

Ultrasound applied at high intensity and low-to-medium frequencies generates cavitation in water. The use of cavitation to rupture or disintegrate biomass is the prime application of ultrasound for sludge treatment and minimization.

Sonication of the return activated sludge (RAS) and/or WAS is used to obtain the following benefits:

• Control of filamentous bulking and foaming sludge
• Improvement of secondary clarifier sludge settling characteristics
• Sludge Volume Index control
• WAS reduction
• Sludge minimization for Aerobic Digestion Process
• Production of internal sources of carbon for denitrification processes
• Elimination of septic conditions in secondary clarifiers

• Swift payback period
• Very small footprint
• Simple installation
• Low maintenance, simple operation