Application of the Danckwerts method in a bubble column - Effects of surfactants on mass transfer coefficient and interfacial area

We determined interfacial areas, A, and individual mass transfer coefficien ts, k(L), for the absorption of CO2 in a bubble column, with an anionic sur factant in the absorbent liquid. The results of experiments to determine th e dependence of k(L) on surface tension of the liquid phase and the superfi cial velocity of the gas were fitted to within a 10% error by expressions o f the form k(L) = K-4 sigma(1.35) u(G)(0.5) where k(4) depends exclusively on the kind of bubbling device. Likewise, th e experimental values of specific area, a, were correlated with the column diameter d(c) and the physical properties by means the following equation: ad(c) =K . Re-0.98 . Sc-0.57 . Fr-0.09 . Bo(-0.70) (d(p)/d(c)) (-0.19) that reproduces satisfactorily the experimental values. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience S.A. All rights reserved.