Volumetric mass transfer coefficient in non-Newtonian fluids in spout fluid beds - Part 1

The volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient, k(L)a, was determined by absorption of oxygen in air using six different carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) solutions with different theological values in three phase spout-fluid beds operated continuously with respect to both gas and liquid. Three cylindrical columns of 7.4 cm, 11.4 cm, and 14.4 cm diameters were used. Gas velocity was varied between 0.00154-0.00563 m/s, liquid velocity between 0.0116-0.0387 m/s, surface tension between 0.00416-0.0189 N/m, static bed height between 6.0-10.8 cm, and spherical glass particles of 1.75 mm diameter were used as packing material. A single nozzle sparger of 1.0 cm diameter was used in the spouting line. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient was found to increase with gas velocity, liquid velocity, and static bed height and to decrease with the increase of the effective liquid viscosity of the CMC solution. A dimensionless correlation was developed and compared with those listed in the literature.