Cavitation bubble interaction with compliant structures on a microscale : a contribution to the understanding of bacterial cell lysis by cavitation treatment

Zevnik, Jure (author), Dular, Matevž (author)

Numerous studies have already shown that the process of cavitation can be successfully used for water treatment and eradication of bacteria. However, most of the relevant studies are being conducted on a macro scale, so the understanding of the processes at a fundamental level remains poor. In attempt to further elucidate the process of cavitation-assisted water treatment on a scale of a single bubble, the present paper numerically addresses interaction between a collapsing microbubble and a nearby compliant structure, that mechanically and structurally resembles a bacterial cell. A fluid–structure interaction methodology is employed, where compressible multiphase flow is considered and the bacterial cell wall is modeled as a multi-layered shell structure. Simulations are performed for two selected model structures, each resembling the main structural features of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial cell envelopes. The contribution of two independent dimensionless geometric parameters is investigated, namely the bubble-cell distance δ and their size ratio ς. Three characteristic modes of bubble collapse dynamics and four modes of spatiotemporal occurrence of peak local stresses in the bacterial cell membrane are identified throughout the parameter space considered. The former range from the development of a weak and thin jet away from the cell to spherical bubble collapses. The results show that local stresses arising from bubble-induced loads can exceed poration thresholds of cell membranes and that bacterial cell damage could be explained solely by mechanical effects in absence of thermal and chemical ones. Based on this, the damage potential of a single microbubble for bacteria eradication is estimated, showing a higher resistance of the Gram-positive model organism to the nearby bubble collapse. Microstreaming is identified as the primary mechanical mechanism of bacterial cell damage, which in certain cases may be enhanced by the occurrence of shock waves during bubble collapse. The results are also discussed in the scope of bacteria eradication by cavitation treatment on a macro scale, where processes of hydrodynamic and ultrasonic cavitation are being employed.

• Language: English
• Keywords: bubble dynamics, cavitation, bacteria, fluid–structure interaction, water treatment
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 20 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 87, art. 106053
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-137340
• UDC: 532.528
• ISSN on article: 1350-4177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2022.106053
• COBISS.SI-ID: 111333891
• Publication date in RUL: 13.06.2022

ZEVNIK, Jure and DULAR, Matevž, 2022, Cavitation bubble interaction with compliant structures on a microscale : a contribution to the understanding of bacterial cell lysis by cavitation treatment. Ultrasonics sonochemistry [online]. 2022. Vol. 87,  106053. [Accessed 25 June 2025]. DOI 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2022.106053. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=137340

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Ultrasonics sonochemistry
• Shortened title: Ultrason. sonochem.
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier
• ISSN: 1350-4177
• COBISS.SI-ID: 707668

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: dinamika mehurčkov, kavitacija, bakterije, interakcija fluid – struktura, čiščenje vode