Drop breakup in turbulent stirred‐tank contactors. Part I: Effect of dispersed‐phase viscosity

Abstract

Abstract The extent to which dispersed‐phase viscosity influences equilibrium mean drop size and drop size distribution at constant interfacial tension is determined for dilute suspensions by dispersing silicone oils of various viscosity grades in water. A mechanistic model for mean drop size is developed which predicts the moderate‐viscosity data and whose parameters correlate the high‐viscosity results. Trends in the mean size data coincide with those for the drop size distribution, which broadens considerably as viscosity increases and suggests a dependency on breakage mechanism.