Gas–liquid and liquid–solid mass transfers in two types of stationary catalytic basket laboratory reactor

Measurements of gas–liquid and liquid–solid mass transfer coefficients were performed in two types of three-phase laboratory reactor equipped with stationary catalytic basket and multiple impeller. Those reactors are called Robinson–Mahoney reactors. Local liquid–solid mass transfer coefficients were measured using naphtol particle dissolution in n-heptane at several agitation speeds. Experiments had shown that local coefficients depended on the particle locations in the basket and agitation speeds. The local coefficient values and profiles were quite similar for both studied reactors even though the reactor designs were different. Similar values of RM basket thicknesses might account for this phenomenon because the liquid–solid mass transfers could be correlated with the ones in packed beds with forced liquid circulation. Gas–liquid mass transfer coefficients were measured using standard dynamic absorption methods in air–water or hydrogen–gas oil system. As in stirred tanks, the gas–liquid mass transfers were linked to the impeller designs and characteristics (gas-inducing or classical impeller) and to the operating conditions such as agitation speeds and fluid properties. However, correlations applicable to stirred tank reactors can be used with Robinson–Mahoney reactors, the baskets behaving like additional baffles or reduction of tank diameters.