Ultrasonic technology effectiveness in fecal coliform disinfection of water

ABSTRACT

The sonolytic destruction of fecal coliforms is reported here. Ultrasonic energy at a frequency of 42 kHz was used to expose aqueous suspension of fecal coli forms to evaluate the germicidal efficacy of ultrasonic exposure. CavItation generated by ultrasonic can greatly enhance various chemical reactions, oxidize aqueous compounds, and disrupt micro-organisms. Controlled laboratory experiments have established the ability of these systems to destroy micro-organisms. Experiments were conducted using BRANSONIC ultrasonic cleaner and operating conditions. Histories of the contaminant concentration reductions and destruction of fecal coli forms were obtained from periodic sampling. The results using BRANSONIC system at 42 kHz for the microbial decontamination of water show that deactivation fecal coli forms dose occurs but not very rapidly. On the other hand, using this frequency it would appear that substantially more of the fecal colifom1s [99.95%] are inactivated in 90 minute