Simultaneous measurement of interfacial area and mass transfer coefficients for a well-mixed gas dispersion in aqueous electrolyte solutions

A new measuring technique involving concurrent chemical absorption of carbon dioxide and desorption of oxygen is developed for simultaneously evaluating the liquid‐phase mass transfer coefficient kL and the specific area a of sparingly‐soluble gas dispersions in stirred tanks containing an aqueous solution of inorganic electrolytes. The method ensures that kL and a are evaluated under consistent hydrodynamic conditions. Results from three different nonviscous systems show that at high agitation power, such that the average bubble diameter is between 0.2 and 2 mm, kL decreases with increasing power input and is dependent on the bubble diameter. This behavior is in contrast to the results of others at lower agitation levels or in nonelectrolytic liquids, but in general agreement with previous results for bubbles of the same diameter range produced in viscous, nonelectrolytic solutions.