Effects of Liquid Film Formed on Flask Surface on Oxygen Transfer Rate in Shaking Flask and Development of Baffled Shaking Vessel by Optical Method Based on Sulfite Oxidation

Abstract

The gas liquid mass transfer volumetric coefficients K_La in several kinds of small size shaking flasks were measured with an optical method based on sulfite oxidation without oxygen concentration probe and liquid sampling. It was found that the liquid film on the inner surface of a flask was one of the very important factors to increase K_La. The baffled flask was effective to obtain a larger oxygen transfer rate than the normal flask. A new developed baffled cylindrical vessel based on the baffled small flask has about three times larger K_La than the normal vessel.