Sonoluminescence quenching in aqueous solutions of aliphatic diols and glycerol

The multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) signals that were generated using 358 kHz ultrasound in aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol and glycerol, over a range of concentrations, have been studied. It was found that the intensity of the MBSL was either reduced or enhanced, relative to the signal in water, depending on the concentration of the solute. It was concluded that the reduction in the MBSL intensity was dependent on the strength of the intermolecular forces, in particular hydrogen bonding, between the solute molecules and water. The enhancement in the MBSL signal was ascribed to presence of the solute molecules at the bubble/solution interface that hinder the coalescence of the bubbles in the multibubble clouds produced at the antinodes in the system.