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Controlling microbubbles in alcohol solutions by using a multi‐channel ceramic membrane distributor
Author(s) -
Liu Yefei,
Han Yang,
Li Xiaoli,
Jiang Hong,
Chen Rizhi
Publication year - 2018
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.5602
Subject(s) - microbubbles , butanol , distributor , bubble , materials science , mass transfer , alcohol , ceramic membrane , ceramic , mass transfer coefficient , membrane , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , mechanics , chromatography , chemistry , thermodynamics , ethanol , composite material , ultrasound , organic chemistry , acoustics , biochemistry , physics , engineering
BACKGROUND Microbubbles are gaining more attention in environmental, medical, agricultural and industrial processes. Alcohol addition plays an important role in controlling microbubble generation. The effect of n ‐butanol concentration on microbubble characteristics has not been studied, thus experiments have been done to investigate the control of microbubbles in alcohol solutions. RESULTS Microbubbles were successfully generated using a 19‐channel ceramic membrane. The bubble Sauter diameter was found to decrease with increasing n ‐butanol concentration. Increasing cross flow velocity and decreasing superficial gas velocity resulted in smaller bubbles. Gas holdup and specific interfacial area was found to increase with increasing n ‐butanol concentration. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient K l a was found to increase with increasing n ‐butanol concentration, following the trend in specific interfacial area. Increasing cross‐flow velocity and superficial gas velocity resulted in increased K l a . CONCLUSIONS Bubble characteristics in solutions with different n ‐butanol concentrations are very different. Alcohol addition is an important way to generate smaller bubbles and larger gas holdup. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry