LIQUID-PHASE AXIAL MIXING STUDY IN A MOBILE BED CONTACTOR WITH LOW-DENSITY PARTICLES

Axial mixing of the liquid phase in a 0. 15 m ID mobile bed contactor has been studied for spherical, cork and irregular-shaped particles of densities 53, 183 and 112 kg m** minus **3, respectively, using the air-water system. The range of gas and liquid flow rates covered were from 0. 5 to 5 m s** minus **1 and from 0. 011 to 0. 044 m s** minus **1, respectively. The experimental breakthrough curves were interpreted by means of the axial dispersion model. Correlations for the Peclet number and axial dispersion coefficient have been proposed. The results indicate that near plug flow of the liquid phase could be achieved with higher static bed heights if the congregation of particles at the wall could be avoided.