Liquid-liquid heterogeneous mixing efficiency in a rotating packed bed reactor

Mixing of two immiscible liquids consists of two sections that are liquid-liquid dispersion and mass transfer intraphase or interphase. It plays a crucial role in the liquid-liquid heterogeneous reactions. Here, the liquid-liquid heterogeneous mixing efficiency in RPB reactor is experimentally assessed by a consecutive-competitive chemical probe system. The diameters of dispersed phase droplets in RPB were measured and a correlation to predict the mean diameters were obtained. Based on the dispersed phase size and mass transfer characteristic, a model for predicting the segregation index of liquid-liquid heterogeneous mixing in RPB was established with a deviation < 20%. Based on this model, the characteristic time of liquid-liquid heterogeneous mixing in RPB is determined to be in the range of 0.01-1 s. RPB exhibits a great process intensification potential for heterogeneous mixing process.

Automated summary

The mixing of two immiscible liquids consists of liquid-liquid dispersion and mass transfer intraphase or interphase. This study experimentally evaluates the liquid-liquid heterogeneous mixing efficiency in RPB reactor and establishes a model for predicting the segregation index based on dispersed phase size and mass transfer characteristic. The characteristic time of liquid-liquid heterogeneous mixing in RPB is determined to be in the range of 0.01-1 s, indicating a great process intensification potential.