ENHANCEMENT OF ELECTROLYTIC MASS-TRANSFER AROUND SPHERES BY APPLYING STATIC MAGNETIC-FIELDS

The effect of applying a static magnetic field on mass transfer rate i n diffusion-controlled electroreduction was studied experimentally aro und single spheres of diameters 8 to 14 mm under the condition of lami nar natural convection. The electrolytic solution of the system K3Fe(C N)(6)K4Fe(CN)(6) with a supporting electrolyte was employed and the ma gnetic field was applied to the cathode in the horizontal or vertical direction and up to 336 mT in flux density. By applying the magnetic f ield in every direction, the mass transfer rate was enhanced more than 50 % at the highest magnetic flux density, compared to the simple nat ural convection case. From the obtained data of mass transfer coeffici ents, dimensionless regression equations for each direction of the app lied magnetic field were derived where the magneto-diffusion factor wa s introduced so as to express the contribution of the applied magnetic flux density.