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Volumetric mass transfer coefficients in an internal loop airlift reactor with low‐density particles
Author(s) -
Muthukumar Karuppan,
Velan Manickam
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1460
Subject(s) - benzoic acid , isoamyl alcohol , mass transfer coefficient , chemistry , mass transfer , draft tube , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , chemical engineering , materials science , thermodynamics , alcohol , organic chemistry , physics , engineering
The influence of organic additives (propanol, benzoic acid, isoamyl alcohol and carboxymethylcellulose) on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k L a , in an internal loop airlift reactor with low‐density particles (nylon‐6 and polystyrene) was investigated. The k L a values increased with increase in superficial gas velocity, U sg , and decreased with increase in solid loading. A draft tube to reactor diameter ratio, D R / D , of 0.4 gave maximum k L a values. The addition of benzoic acid and propanol increased the k L a values owing to their coalescence inhibiting characteristics. The addition of isoamyl alcohol decreased k L a , owing to the formation of rigid bubbles and recirculation of small bubbles having a low oxygen content. The k L a values decreased with increase in the concentration of the non‐Newtonian fluid carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The proposed correlations predicted the experimental data well. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry