The first book on Ultrafine bubbles (UFBs). Reviews research done on UFBs. Helpful for readers and researchers interested in the fundamentals of this emerging field

This brief explains in detail fundamental concepts in acoustic cavitation and bubble dynamics, and describes derivations of the fundamental equations of bubble dynamics in order to support those readers just beginning research in this field. Further, it provides an in-depth understanding of the physical basis of the phenomena. With regard to sonochemistry, the brief presents the results of numerical simulations of chemical reactions inside a bubble under ultrasound, especially for a single-bubble system and including unsolved problems. Written so as to be accessible both with and without prior knowledge of fundamental fluid dynamics, the brief offers a valuable resource for students and researchers alike, especially those who are unfamiliar with this field. A grasp of fundamental undergraduate mathematics such as partial derivative and fundamental integration is advantageous; however, even without any background in mathematics, readers can skip the equations and still understand the fundamental physics of the phenomena using the book's wealth of illustrations and figures. As such, it is also suitable as an introduction to the field.

The book provides a beginners introduction to the way ultrasound acts on bubbles in a liquid to cause bubbles to collapse violently, leading to localised 'hot spots' in the liquid with temperatures of 5000 C and under pressures of several hundred atmospheres. These extreme conditions produce events such as the emission of light, sonoluminescence, with a lifetime of less than a nanosecond, and free radicals that can initiate a host of varied chemical reactions (sonochemistry) in the liquid, all at room temperature. The physics and chemistry behind the phenomena are simply but comprehensively presented. In addition, potential industrial and medical applications of acoustic cavitation and its chemical effects are described and reviewed. The book is suitable for graduate students working with ultrasound and for potential chemists and chemical engineers wanting to understand the basics of how ultrasound acts in a liquid to cause chemical and physical effects.

The book is a carefully structured beginners guide to acoustic cavitation phenomena, i.e., the formation and subsequent collapse of micro bubbles in a liquid exposed to ultrasound. Its chemical effects (sonochemistry) are caused by radicals formed inside bubbles during their collapse as a consequence of the extreme temperatures and pressures created within such bubbles. These free radicals are the basis of many chemical reactions, including, electron transfer reactions, new stable compound formation, initiation of polymerization processes, as well as oxidation reactions leading to molecular degradation. The book guides the reader from the physics of how ultrasound interacts with bubbles to applications of sonochemisty. The applications cover industrial (including food processing) and medical uses of ultrasound. It is useful for the user because it consolidates what is known how ultrasound acts on bubbles, and the chemical consequences of its exposure to a broad range of systems. As ultrasound reactors are widely used in both the laboratory and in commercial processes the book provides a useful fundamental understanding on what lies behind the application in action

Experimental methods on acoustic cavitation and sonochemistry

One can readily begin experiments in the field.

Fundamentals

One can easily understand the physics behind the phenomenon.

Examples of (possible) industrial applications in chemical engineering and environmental technologies

One can easily understand the possibilities for adopting the action of acoustic cavitation with respect to industrial applications.

Examples of (potential) medical applications

One can easily grasp the potential use of the phenomenon to medical applications.

Examples in organic and inorganic chemical synthesis

One can readily understand the many possibilities for applying cavitation chemistry in chemical synthesis.

History

One is clearly introduced to the history of the field and its novel developments."