Influence of surface tension on interfacial area and mass transfer coefficient in a bubble column

The absorption of CO2 in buffer solutions Na2CO3/NaHCO3 (0.5M-0.5M) has taken place in the presence of an anionic surface agent, sodium lauryl sulphate, using a bubble column and in semicontinuous running, with the purpose to analyze the influence of surface tension on interfacial area and on the individually coefficient of mass transfer. Both parameters have been individually or jointly correlated with surface tension of liquid phase and with gas surface speed, by means of equations that reproduce the experimental data with deviations lower than 10%. Likewise, these parameters have also been correlated with the geometrical characteristics of the column and the physical properties of the system through dimensionless modules. The resulting equation reproduces successfully the experimental value.