Under the condition of different pH (7~11) and different ethanol volume fraction (45% to 85%), the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra of malachite green were studied in neutral and alkaline ethanol solution, the maximum absorption wavelength at 620 nm was found, and the matching degree of standard curve was better established. In low power trench-type ultrasound apparatus, the absorption of the malachite green solution was measured under ultrasound and non-ultrasound, respectively. the difference values of the ultraviolet absorption of the malachite green solution under low power trench-type ultrasound were measured results of the hydroxyl free radical oxidation degrading malachite green, therefore hydroxyl free radical from low power trench-type ultrasound was determined indirectly. Then the contents of hydroxyl free radical in four conditions were measured. The detection limit of the method of 8.4×10-6 mmol·L-1 and the relative standard deviation of the method of 9.4×10-5～3.7×10-4 mmol·L-1 were determined, a higher testing precision and good reproducibility were confirmed. It can be applied for fast detection of neutral and alkaline ethanol solution system in the case of very low concentration of hydroxyl free radicals. Since malachite green is heat sensitive, so compared to measuring temperature, the method possessed better functions for thermal effects of ultrasound.