CHEMICAL ABSORPTION OF MERCAPTAN IN AN AEROSOL OPERATED LOOP REACTOR

A mechanistic mathematical model for the chemical absorption of mercap tan in sodium hypochlorite solution has been derived. In order to desc ribe the process adequately, a semi-verified complex scheme of the inv olved kinetic reactions based on stopped-flow measurements with UV-det ection has been implemented. The overall system of differential equati ons has been solved numerically. For some asymptotic cases, approximat ion formulae are given. The process has been carried out in an aerosol operated jet loop reactor which is characterized by high interfacial areas at low liquid flow rates. Fitting the model solution to the expe rimentally obtained conversion data enabled determination of the unkno wn hydrodynamic parameters. By means of a sensitivity analysis, the in fluences of the different parameters are discussed.