THE EFFECT OF ELECTRIC-FIELD ON MASS-TRANSFER FROM DROPS DISPERSED INA VISCOUS-LIQUID

Mass transfer of benzoic acid from drops dispersed into a continuous p hase of mineral oil with high viscosity has been investigated both wit h and without an imposed non-uniform d.c. electric field. Total mass t ransfer efficiency was significantly enhanced in the presence of the h igh voltage electric field. The results indicate that the application of the electric field to the drop formation process does not change th e fundamental mass transfer mechanisms and the mass transfer during dr op free fall can also be described by existing mass transfer models. T he results also suggest that the high viscosity of the continuous phas e inhibits the drops oscillation as well as circulation when the drop sizes become smaller under the applied high voltage electric field. Th erefore the significant enhancement of mass transfer efficiency in the present work is mainly due to the increased specific interfacial area .