Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in a draft tube airlift reactor with dilute alcohol solutions

• Published in: AIChE journal Vol. 53; no. 11; pp. 2897 - 2904
• Main Authors: Albijanić, B, Havran, V, Petrović, D. Lj, Đurić, M, Tekić, M.N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.11.2007; Wiley Subscription Services; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Alcohol; alcohol addition; Applied sciences; Aqueous chemistry; Aqueous solutions; Chemical engineering; Chemical reactors; draft tube airlift reactor; Exact sciences and technology; Heat and mass transfer. Packings, plates; hydrodynamics; Hydrodynamics of contact apparatus; mass transfer; multiphase reactors; Reactors; Gas holdup; Airlift reactor; Correlation; alcohol addition; Aliphatic compound; Hydrodynamics; Mass transfer; Bioreactor; draft tube airlift reactor; Mass transfer coefficient; Correlation analysis; multiphase reactors; Draft tube; Surface tension; Alcoholic solution; Aqueous solution; Circulation time
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.11306

The aim of this work was to investigate an influence of different alcohols on the behavior of a draft tube airlift reactor. The main hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters in 1 wt % aqueous solutions of five aliphatic alcohols were examined. The results showed that alcohol addition enhanced gas holdup and mass transfer coefficient, but led to notable reduction of liquid velocity and hence elongation of circulation time, relative to the values determined for water. By introducing the surface tension gradient as a relevant independent variable, we defined a simple empirical correlation for overall gas holdup, circulation time, and mass transfer coefficient. The proposed empirical correlations have shown a satisfactory agreement between the calculated and the experimental data. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007