hydrolysis of fatty oils: effect of cavitation

Abstract

Acoustic cavitation resulting from ultrasound irradiation is known to cause chemical change in organic/inorganic compounds (Suslick, 1990). Localised high temperatures and pressures generated during collapse of a vapour cavity bring about this change. Hydrodynamic cavitation was generated in a simple flow loop [Fig. l(a)] by throttling a valve downstream of the pump. The collapsing vapour cavities generated during throttling are capable of oscillating with ultrasonic frequencies and conditions, similar to an ultrasonic generator, and are expected to be generated downstream of the cavitating valve (Harrison and Pandit, 1990).