# US 8,147,619 B2 · Chemical cavitation and cleaning process

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- Number: US 8,147,619 B2
- Document ID: US8147619B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/776,404
- Filed: 2010-05-09
- Published: 2010-11-18
- Granted: 2012-04-03
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-16
- Inventors: Heiko Ackermann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8147619B2

## CPC

- B08B 3/12: by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
- B01J 19/008: {Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions}
- C08B 15/02: Oxycellulose; Hydrocellulose; {Cellulosehydrate, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose}
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C08B: POLYSACCHARIDES; DERIVATIVES THEREOF (polysaccharides containing less than six saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages C07H; fermentation or enzyme-using processes C12P19/00; sugar industry C13; production of cellulose D21)

## Abstract

Cavitation is an often used mechanism for accelerating chemical reactions and for cleaning purposes. This invention describes a very simple process for generating cavitation with a vibration table through vertical excitations which generates a “water hammer” that generates very effective cavitation. A simple example is given for an industrial application of this process—splitting cellulose via sulfuric acid to glucose.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating cavitation in a fluid comprising:
placing a liquid in a container;
generating a vacuum in the container with a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the container;
and subjecting the container to vertical oscillations to generate cavitation in the fluid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises sulfuric acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises cellulose.

### Claim 4

An apparatus comprising:
a container with a cover;
a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the container;
at least one vibrator connected to the container such that the vibrator is capable of generating vertical oscillations of the container.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a vibration damper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a guide rod.