Application of the Danckwerts method in a bubble column -: Effects of surfactants on mass transfer coefficient and interfacial area

We determined interfacial areas, A, and individual mass transfer coefficients, k(L), for the absorption of CO2 in a bubble column, with an anionic surfactant in the absorbent liquid. The results of experiments to determine the dependence of k(L) on surface tension of the liquid phase and the superficial velocity of the gas were fitted to within a 10% error by expressions of the form k(L) = K-4 sigma(1.35) u(G)(0.5) where k(4) depends exclusively on the kind of bubbling device. Likewise, the experimental values of specific area, a, were correlated with the column diameter d(c) and the physical properties by means the following equation: ad(c) =K . Re-0.98 . Sc-0.57 . Fr-0.09 . Bo(-0.70) (d(p)/d(c)) (-0.19) that reproduces satisfactorily the experimental values. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.