A method and apparatus for and aggregates in a fluid medium. The present
invention employs an ultrasonic device to efficiently breakup particle
agglomerates by driving the ultrasonic signal over a small range of
frequencies around the acoustic slow wave frequency of the saturated
agglomerate. At this frequency, the fluid vibrates out of phase with the
solid and is forced out through the pore structure in the agglomerate.
This relative fluid motion to exert high viscous stresses at the
particle-particle contact points which leads to fracture of the
agglomerate and the redispersion of the individual particles. The
apparatus includes a dispersing vessel containing aggregates of particles
in a fluid, a sonic member for applying an ultrasonic signal in said
dispersing vessel for separating the aggregates to form dispersed
particles.