Sonication

Sonication

Sonication is the act of applying sound (usually ultrasound) energy to agitate particles in a sample, for various purposes. In the laboratory, it is usually applied using an "ultrasonic bath" or an "ultrasonic probe", colloquially known as a sonicator. In a paper machine, an ultrasonic foil can distribute cellulose fibres more uniformly and strengthen the paper.

Sonication can be used to speed dissolution, by breaking intermolecular interactions. It is especially useful when it is not possible to stir the sample, as with NMR tubes. It may also be used to provide the energy for certain chemical reactions to proceed. Sonication can be used to remove dissolved gases from liquids (degassing) by sonicating the liquid while it is under a vacuum. This is an alternative to the freeze-pump-thaw and sparging methods.

In biological applications, sonication may be sufficient to disrupt or deactivate a biological material. For example, sonication is often used to disrupt cell membranes and release cellular contents.

Sonication can also be used to initiate crystallisation processes and even control polymorphic crystallisations. Sonication be used to intervene in anti-solvent precipitations (crystallisation) to aid mixing and isolate small crystals.

Sonication can also loosen particles adhering to the wall of a vessel. Therefore it can be used as a cleaning step, easier than scraping them off with a spatula. Outside the field of laboratory science, sonicating baths are used to clean objects such as spectacles and jewelry.

Sonication is also used to extract microfossils from rock.cite journal
author = Gensel, P.G.
coauthors = Johnson, N.G.; Strother, P.K.
year = 1990
title = Early Land Plant Debris (Hooker's" Waifs and Strays"?)
journal = PALAIOS
volume = 5
issue = 6
pages = 520–547
url = http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0883-1351(199012)5%3A6%3C520%3AELPD(%22%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y
accessdate = 2007-11-16
doi = 10.2307/3514860]

Sonication can also refer to buzz pollination - the process that bees use to shake pollen from flowers by vibrating their wing muscles.

ee also

* Sonochemistry
* Ultrasonic cleaning

References


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  • sonication —  Sonication  Обработка ультразвуком  Физический метод получения коллоидных систем, использующий ультразвуковое воздействие для создания кавитации, которая обеспечивает диспергирование частиц, капель, пузырьков …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • Sonication — Ultrason L ultrason est un son, c est à dire une onde mécanique et élastique, diffusée par les gaz, les liquides, les tissus mous (chair, organes) ou les solides (partie métallique comme la sonotrode), dont la fréquence est supérieure à 20 000 Hz …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sonication — noun see sonicate …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sonication — n. [L. sonus, sound] The disruption of cells by sound waves …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • sonication — noun The process of disrupting or homogenizing something, usually a chemical solution or biological medium, with sound waves. See Also: sonicate …   Wiktionary

  • sonication — The process of disrupting biologic materials by use of sound wave energy. * * * son·i·ca·tion (son″ĭ kaґshən) exposure to sound waves; see sonicate …   Medical dictionary

  • sonication — son·i·ca·tion …   English syllables

  • sonication — Disruption of cells or DNA molecules by high frequency sound waves …   Glossary of Biotechnology

  • sonication — noun see sonicate …   Useful english dictionary

  • Buzz pollination — Sonication or buzz pollination is a technique used by some bees to release pollen which is more or less firmly held by the anthers, which makes pollination more efficient. The anther of buzz pollinated species of plants is typically tubular, with …   Wikipedia

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