Spontaneous nonlinear oscillation produced by alcohol transfer through water/alkane interface: An experimental study

Spontaneous non-linear oscillations produced at the heptane/water and dodecane/water interface by dissolution of an alcohol droplet in the water bulk are studied experimentally and the results are compared with the predictions of the theory developed recently [J. Phys. Chem. B 109 (2005) 22868]. The effect of the alkane and alcohol properties on the dynamic regime and the characteristics of oscillations are analysed. Good qualitative agreement between theory and experiment is found. The effect of contaminations present in liquid phases and thermal convection due to evaporation on the behaviour of the considered systems is discussed.