Ultrasound in Heterogeneous Systems and Applications in Food Processing

Abstract

An overview of events arising from the sonication of heterogeneous systems is given, ranging from oil-in-water emulsions and suspensions to foam. Key properties of the various systems are described and how both chemical and mechanical/physical effects of ultrasound impact the systems exposed. The major action of exposing heterogeneous systems to ultrasound is from shock waves, microstreaming, and microjets created by violently imploding cavitation bubbles. Chemical effects, through radical formation, are important in polymer latex production in addition to the mechanical emulsification of the monomer oil from shear forces from fluid flow generated during the cavitation events of bubbles. The..