Gas Holdup and Volumetric Liquid-Phase Mass Transfer Coefficient in a Gel-Particle Suspended Bubble Column with Draught Tube

Abstract

The effects of column dimensions, gas velocity and properties of the liquid and the gel particles on gas holdup ε_G and volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient k_La in a gel-suspended bubble column with a draught tube and a conical bottom were studied experimentally in a liquid-solid batch operation. The presence of suspended gel particles in the column reduces values of ε_G and k_La, and the degree of reductions due to addition of gel particles to the column increases with increasing gel-particle concentration. Based on these observations, empirical equations of ε_G and k_La applicable to columns of 0.14–0.3 m diameter are proposed.