Threshold for spontaneous oscillation in a three-phase liquid membrane system involving nonionic surfactant.

This study of self-oscillation was conducted using a new three-phase liquid membrane system of ethanol aqueous solution, benzyl alcohol solution with nonionic surfactant, and pure water. Relations of the initial ethanol concentration to the oscillation amplitude and frequency, and to the induction period before oscillations were investigated. The oscillation amplitude is independent of the initial ethanol concentration, but the frequency and the induction period are related to it. The oscillation frequency increased concomitantly with the increased ethanol initial concentration, but the induction period before the electrical oscillations decreased with increasing concentration. To estimate the influence of ethanol diffusion on the electrical oscillations, the ethanol concentration in each phase was measured using separate experiments after different durations of oscillation. The diffusion coefficient was calculated using Fick's second law. Results show successful estimation of the threshold for oscillations. The threshold is defined in terms of the ethanol concentration at the interface between the benzyl alcohol phase and the pure water phase.