7 mai 2024 à 14h
Conférence « Interaction between single cavitation bubble and bacteria «
par Prof. Dr. Matevz Dular, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
Lieu : Salle des Actes, ENSI Poitiers
Abstract
Cavitation is a potentially useful phenomenon accompanied by extreme conditions, which is one of the reasons for its increased use in a variety of applications, such as surface cleaning, enhanced chemistry, and water treatment. Yet, we are still not able to answer many fundamental questions related to efficacy and effectiveness of cavitation treatment, such as: “Can single bubbles destroy contaminants?” and “What precisely is the mechanism behind bubble’s cleaning power?”.
In the talk we will first discuss recent developments understanding the interaction of a single cavitation bubble with a bacterial cell. Results on E. coli bacteria show that only cells in the immediate vicinity of the microbubble are affected, and that a very high likelihood of cell death exists for cells located directly under the bubble.
This will be followed by a description of the transfer of knowledge from the basic science to application where we develop a unique device that exploits cavitation to pre-treat industrial or domestic waste activated sludge prior to anaerobic digestion. Rotating generator for hydrodynamic cavitation – a scalable and cost-effective device that works simultaneously as a cavitation generator and a pump improves the disintegration, settleability and dewatering of sludge, resulting in synergistic effects in terms of lower costs associated with reduced volumes of sludge and environmental burden from its disposal, while producing methane – a renewable bioenergy source.
Cavitation is a potentially useful phenomenon accompanied by extreme conditions, which is one of the reasons for its increased use in a variety of applications, such as surface cleaning, enhanced chemistry, and water treatment. Yet, we are still not able to answer many fundamental questions related to efficacy and effectiveness of cavitation treatment, such as: “Can single bubbles destroy contaminants?” and “What precisely is the mechanism behind bubble’s cleaning power?”.
In the talk we will first discuss recent developments understanding the interaction of a single cavitation bubble with a bacterial cell. Results on E. coli bacteria show that only cells in the immediate vicinity of the microbubble are affected, and that a very high likelihood of cell death exists for cells located directly under the bubble.
This will be followed by a description of the transfer of knowledge from the basic science to application where we develop a unique device that exploits cavitation to pre-treat industrial or domestic waste activated sludge prior to anaerobic digestion. Rotating generator for hydrodynamic cavitation – a scalable and cost-effective device that works simultaneously as a cavitation generator and a pump improves the disintegration, settleability and dewatering of sludge, resulting in synergistic effects in terms of lower costs associated with reduced volumes of sludge and environmental burden from its disposal, while producing methane – a renewable bioenergy source.
CV
Prof. dr. Matevž Dular is one of the youngest full professors at the University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering). He has worked in Germany, France and the USA for more than five years. For seven years, he led two projects for the European Space Agency (ESA), where they developed methods for better understanding and prediction of the thermodynamic effects during pumping of fuel and oxidizer in rocket engines. In 2019, he received the Zois recognition for his scientific achievements and in 2020 he received the prestigious Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. In 2017 he obtained a project from the European Research Council (ERC), where he is researching the possibilities of environmentally friendly destruction of bacteria and viruses by cavitation. In 2022 he received the second ERC project, which finances proof of concept for wastewater sludge treatment by cavitation.
Prof. dr. Matevž Dular is one of the youngest full professors at the University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering). He has worked in Germany, France and the USA for more than five years. For seven years, he led two projects for the European Space Agency (ESA), where they developed methods for better understanding and prediction of the thermodynamic effects during pumping of fuel and oxidizer in rocket engines. In 2019, he received the Zois recognition for his scientific achievements and in 2020 he received the prestigious Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. In 2017 he obtained a project from the European Research Council (ERC), where he is researching the possibilities of environmentally friendly destruction of bacteria and viruses by cavitation. In 2022 he received the second ERC project, which finances proof of concept for wastewater sludge treatment by cavitation.