Extraction & Cell Disruption

Ultrasonic cell disruption (lysing) is the “gold standard” extraction method, owing to its simplicity and superior efficiency in extracting a wide variety of substances from plants, mushrooms and microorganisms, including cannabinoids, alkaloids, terpenes, algae oils, polyphenols, and recombinant proteins. This process is conducted using an ultrasonic processor equipped with a high-amplitude Barbell Horn^® immersed in a biomass slurry prepared with a suitable solvent. High vibration amplitudes are required as this process relies on intense acoustic cavitation to generate extremely strong solvent micro-jets able to disrupt/penetrate cell membranes and bring out their contents.

The main advantage of Industrial Sonomechanics^® ultrasonic processors for this application is the ability of our patented Barbell Horns^® to generate very high ultrasonic amplitudes at any scale of operation (unlike conventional high-amplitude ultrasonic horns, which are restricted to the laboratory scale only). Since our processors can be configured in both batch and flow-through modes, they can handle anywhere from a few milliliters to many hundreds of liters of slurry at a time. Our reactor chambers (flow cells) are designed without narrow gaps or capillaries, eliminating clogging that is common with some alternative approaches. For biomass slurries with a strong tendency to settle out of the solvent, we offer a flow-through processor configuration with an incorporated in-line high-shear mixing pump.

All Industrial Sonomechanics^® units provide precise temperature control, making it possible to extract heat-sensitive substances. Our bench and industrial-scale processors utilize patented fully sealed water-cooled transducers and can, therefore, work with flammable organic solvents. However, since high-amplitude ultrasound is able to greatly intensify the efficiency of extraction, it is often possible to replace harsh organic solvents with milder, greener and more economical food-grade alternatives, such as ethanol or water, and still achieve superior results.