Standard Probes For Q500 / Q700 Sonicators

Horns (probes) are essential components for Q500 and Q700 Sonicators, designed to facilitate efficient sample processing through cavitation. These titanium-made probes transmit ultrasonic vibrations to liquids, where cavitation creates the mechanical action needed for applications such as cell disruption, homogenization, and nanoparticle dispersion.

Key Features

1. Titanium Construction:
   • Durable and capable of withstanding high-intensity vibrations.
2. Tip Diameter Variability:
   • Different diameters support varying sample volumes and sonication intensities.
3. Replaceable vs. Solid Tips:
   • Replaceable Tips: Convenient for long-term use, allowing easy replacement when tips are eroded.
   • Solid Tips: Suitable for samples with organic solvents or low surface tension liquids, offering better chemical resistance.
4. Customizable Amplitude:
   • Adjustable amplitudes enable optimization for specific applications.

Comparison Table

Selection Guidelines

1. Processing Volume:
   • Choose a smaller tip diameter for low-volume, high-intensity applications.
   • Opt for larger tip diameters for processing larger volumes with lower intensity.
2. Material Compatibility:
   • Use solid tips for organic solvents or samples with low surface tension liquids to ensure durability.
3. Replaceable Tips:
   • Ideal for laboratories processing standard aqueous samples, allowing replacement when worn.
4. Amplitude Needs:
   • Higher amplitudes (e.g., 120 μm) deliver stronger sonication, suitable for challenging applications.
   • Lower amplitudes (e.g., 35 μm) are better for delicate or large-volume samples.

Maintenance

• Monitor Tip Condition:
  Replace tips regularly to avoid erosion that can impact results and potentially overload the generator.
• Choose Replaceable Tips:
  Replaceable tips extend the lifespan of probes, offering cost-effective maintenance solutions.

Applications

1. Low-Volume, High-Intensity:
   • DNA shearing, nanoparticle preparation, and emulsification (20–250 mL).
2. Medium-Volume Processing:
   • Protein extraction and homogenization (50–500 mL).
3. Large-Volume Samples:
   • Environmental testing, pharmaceutical formulations, and material processing (100–1,000 mL).

The selection of the right probe ensures efficient and reproducible sonication results tailored to the application and sample type.