Sonochemical reaction with microbubbles generated by hollow ultrasonic horn

A microbubble generator with a cylindrical hollow ultrasonic horn (HUSH), gas flow path, and an orifice inside it can produce high ultrasonic pressure around the generated microbubbles. We used this microbubble generator with a HUSH as a sonochemical reactor for the degradation of indigo carmine and evaluated the sonochemical reaction by simply inserting the horn end into a liquid. The experimental results revealed that the ultrasonic irradiation around ultrasonically generated microbubbles effectively degraded indigo carmine in water. In addition, degradation experiments performed by varying the ultrasonic power and gas flow rates indicated that a continuous gas supply and ultrasonic pressure were required for generating the microbubbles, without the generation of millimeter-scale bubbles, to enhance the sonochemical reaction in water.

► A cylindrical hollow ultrasonic horn can easily generate microbubbles.
► This US horn can produce high ultrasonic pressure around the generated microbubbles.
► We evaluated the sonochemical reaction by inserting this US horn end into a liquid.
► This reactor using this US horn effectively degraded indigo carmine in water.
► A continuous gas supply and high US pressure enhanced the sonochemical reaction.