Maintaining Your Ultrasonicator System

Ultrasonication is a versatile process and finds applications in areas, ranging from cell biology and pharmaceuticals, to environmental testing and chemistry. Depending on the sample to be processed, many components make up an ultrasonication setup. These include a power generator, a piezoelectric converter (transducer), a probe, probe tips, horn cups, booster horns, flowcells, and sound enclosures, amongst others. While the use of other constituents may vary, the first three components are indispensable to form an ultrasonicator.

As well as proper installation and testing, it is important that the ultrasonic liquid processor system be checked, inspected for inconsistencies, and tuned-up regularly after each processing operation. The operational maintenance schedule will also largely depend on the type of application for which the system is used.

Since the ultrasonic processor system converts high-voltage electrical energy into ultrasonic waves, always make it a point to inspect the cable wires and the cable assembly for any damage or break points. In particular, the cord that links the power generator to the piezoelectric transducer is a high-voltage cable. Any damage or wearing of the insulation poses a huge hazard to the technicians operating the system. As a result, such cables should be regularly inspected for wear and tear and replaced if breakage occurs due to extended use of mishandling.

Out of the elements of the system the ones that get subjected to excessive wear and tear with prolonged usage include probes, tips, microtips, and booster horns. Whilst the erosion of these parts depends on the sample and its volume being processed, they should be regularly tested for efficiency and the time they take to process the liquid. The systems used to process high-surface tension and high-viscosity liquids will result in quicker erosion of these metal parts than those used for low-viscosity samples. Make it a point to replace the ones which erode as using the same will result in the reduction of effective power transmitted into the liquid to be processed.

In addition to checking and replacing the probes, tips, and horns which have eroded, inspecting the same elements for rust and discolouration is equally important. Corrosion can take place due to extended exposure to acidic solutions during sonication. If discoloration occurs, first move the system away from the sample or solutions causing it. And then, follow a regular cleansing procedure to clean crucial elements (i.e. the generator, transducer, probes, and tips) with non-acidic cleaning solutions.

Maintaining the probe tips requires detaching it from the converter. The threaded stud of the tip as well as the threading on the converter needs to be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol so that any remains are completely removed. Exercise caution not to allow the cleaning liquid to drip into the converter while cleaning the converter’s threading.

Taking the above mentioned preventive maintenance steps can increase the longevity of your ultrasonic liquid processor systems while offering you a consistent and efficient operation for laboratory as well as production runs.

Paresh Shah is a Director at Life-Care Equipments Pvt. Ltd., a leading manufacturer and distributor of a wide range of ultrasonic cleaning systems.