{"id":1335,"date":"2021-09-23T18:02:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T18:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wateriqtech.com\/?page_id=1335"},"modified":"2023-08-16T18:56:55","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T18:56:55","slug":"intro-to-ultrasound","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wateriqtech.com\/algae-101\/intro-to-ultrasound\/","title":{"rendered":"Intro to Ultrasound"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

How ultrasound became a preferred treatment for algae<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Ultrasound technology can produce frequencies that cause algae to hit its natural resonant frequency \u2014 the speed at which it will vibrate \u2014 causing it to lose buoyancy, sink, and ultimately, die.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Ultrasound: the Achilles heel of algae and biofilm in water<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Learn how ultrasonic technology is leading to breakthroughs in the treatment of algae and biofilm in water.<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

You would be hard-pressed to find a bigger music critic than algae.<\/span><\/p>

Not all ultrasonic waves are the same. At the extreme end, there is high-powered ultrasound that can cause the formation of bubbles that inwardly implode creating intense heat and pressure. This would be deadly not only for the treatment of algae but anything else in its path. Then there is the frequency range that, while not as severe, does effectively kill most algae. Algae as it turns out is very sensitive to ultrasonic waves.<\/span><\/p>

How was it discovered that algae could be controlled via ultrasound?\u00a0 As in many cases it was an accidental discovery. It is said that around the turn of the 20th century, some gunplay near an algae-choked waterway led to a gradual clearing of the green scourge. Through observation an idea was born.<\/span><\/p>

It would take generations of testing and validation to ultimately discover what caused those early results \u2014 and how to replicate them without leading to cavitation. The culprit behind biofilm formulation is anaerobic bacteria, which can lead to unwelcome colonies of Zebra Mussels and the associated havoc they can cause to health and property. Biofilm can be prevented by applying ultrasound. Ultrasonic technology, correctly used, can create turbulence that prevents the bacteria from setting in, thereby eliminating the food source for Zebra Mussels. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Learn more: read our Primer on Algae and Biofilm<\/a><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Learn more about the phosphate and nitrate diet of HABs.<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

The perfection of ultrasonic technology<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Ultrasound can produce frequencies that cause algae to hit its natural resonant frequency: the speed at which it will vibrate. Every material on earth has such a natural resonant frequency. It so happens, we located the frequencies that affect algae. Much like an opera singer causing a wine glass to shatter, frequencies\u00a0 generated by ultrasonic waves can create a structural resonance within blue-green algae that can disrupt the gas vesicles, causing it to lose buoyancy and sink below the surface where it can\u2019t engage in photosynthesis and dies. In green algae, the effect is a bit different. The structural resonance can disrupt the cellular structure leading to its demise in 3-4 weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tBefore this ultrasonic process could be adapted for commercial use, two key questions would need to be answered: What ultrasonic frequencies would need to be generated to affect different species of algae; and how to cast the frequencies close enough.<\/span>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

First,\u00a0 with approximately 2,000,000 species of algae and biofilm, it takes a variety of ultrasonic frequencies\u00a0 \u2013 broadcast at varying kilohertz (KHz) levels \u2013 to make a solid impact. Though early ultrasonic solutions used just a handful of frequencies, today, George Hutchinson \u2013 considered the father of modern algae ultrasound treatment —\u00a0 was able to identify 2,000 frequencies that proved to be the\u00a0 most effective. He had an assist from his brother, David, a musician whose commercial music editing program actually created these frequencies with a high-level of precision.<\/span><\/p>

Some of these frequencies are adept at rupturing gas vacuoles or vesicles (like those found in blue green algae); others are effective at breaking the cell wall bonds, or interfering with the algae and biofilm reproductive cycles \u2013 often as soon as 24 hours after treatment.<\/span><\/p>

Though these sonic waves are hazardous to the health of algae, they need to be introduced in a fairly-close arrangement to be effective \u2013 anywhere from 70 to 400 meters max, depending upon the target.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Learn more: Read our Overview of Algae and Biofilm Problems<\/a><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Creating an ultrasonic process for repeatable results<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Much like floating warships, WaterIQ Technologies\u2122 ultrasonic solutions\u00a0 create a veritable algae-crusading navy, ready for battle.\u00a0 To cope for the aforementioned distance limitations, devices are often deployed in multiples \u2013 creating concentric circles of coverage that work their destructive magic in symphonic synergy.<\/span><\/p>

You\u2019ll often find these floating algae fighters in places such as large lakes and reservoirs, private and recreation ponds, golf courses, wineries, municipal water facilities, storm retention ponds, and aquaculture settings.<\/span><\/p>

As adept as these ultrasonic waves can be in dispatching multicellular organisms, they\u2019re actually pretty safe for non-algal beings. Unlike chemicals or other treatment methods, ultrasound, properly done, is not harmful for the environment, creating no harmful effects on animals, fish, birds, and human beings, as well as beneficial aquatic plants. On that last notion, ultrasonic treatment isn\u2019t effective on algae that masquerades as plants \u2013 species such as pithophora, chara, nitella, hydrodictyon and more.<\/span><\/p>

The list of advantages for ultrasound is plentiful, and includes:<\/b><\/p>