Use of ultrasonic baths for analytical applications: A new approach for optimisation conditions

Optimisation conditions for obtaining maximum cavitation intensity in ultra sonic baths are proposed using a simple and fast method. Parameters such as water volume, temperature, detergent concentration, horizontal and vertica l positions, number of tubes in the bath, sonication time and bath water su bstitution were studied. The results obtained for both baths studied (Neyte ch and Cole-Parmer) lead to the following conditions for maximum cavitation intensity: 1 L of water at room temperature, 0.2 % (v/v) of detergent, cen tral position on the bottom of the tank. Only one tube at a time should be used inside the bath during the ultrasound application. The cavitation inte nsity was linear with the sonication time up to 10 minutes and the water su bstitution during the sonication improved reproducibility. This system usin g continuous water change makes possible the sonication of 6 consecutive sa mples, without changes in the water volume.