Interfacial area in gas-liquid Couette-Taylor flow reactor

In this study the specific interfacial area (gas-liquid) generated within a stirred tank and Couette-Taylor-Poiseuille flow (CTPF) reactor was determined for a range rotational speeds, and gas and liquid volumetric flow rates. The specific interfacial area was obtained experimentally using the oxidation sodium dithionite in alkaline solution. The specific interfacial area for a CTPF was found to be in range 700-1200 m(2) m(-3) over the range of operating rotational speed (0-3000 rpm), liquid flow rate (1 dm(3) min(-1)) and gas/liquid volumetric flow rates (0.5-2.0). Typically, the specific interfacial area obtained for the CTPF reactor was an order of magnitude higher than those obtained (in this study) for a stirred tank reactor. It was also found that the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient, calculated from the measured a(L) and using previously obtained k(L)a values, was of the order 10(-4) m s(-1), which was consistent for 2.5 mm diameter bubbles as calculated in this study. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.