Towards the understanding of a complex cavitation environment - electrochemistry, acoustics and imaging observations

A set of experiments designed to characterize an ultrasonic reactor are presented. These include electrochemical, acoustic and imaging of the reactor deployed. In particular an electrochemical technique, that can detect the erosion caused by single inertial cavitation events within an ultrasonic reactor, is reported. The technique relies on the erosion/corrosion of an electrode surface. The sensitivity of the technique is discussed in relation to normal weight loss measurements. In order to operate this system an optoisolation approach is discussed which enables the electrochemical measurements to be undertaken within an earthed metallic ultrasonic bath. Mapping of the reactor is combined with luminescent imaging