Gas holdup and volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient in a gel-particle suspended bubble column with draught tube.

Abstract

The effects of column dimensions, gas velocity and properties of the liquid and the gel particles on gas holdup εG and volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kLa in a gel-suspended bubble column with a draught tube and a conical bottom were studied experimentally in a liquid-solid batch operation. The presence of suspended gel particles in the column reduces values of εG and kLa, and the degree of reductions due to addition of gel particles to the column increases with increasing gel-particle concentration. Based on these observations, empirical equations of εG and kLa applicable to columns of 0.14–0.3 m diameter are proposed.