Development and validation of a comprehensive 1-D model to simulate gas hold-up and gas–liquid transfer in deep air–water bubble columns

[Display omitted] •Hydrodynamics and liquid/gas transfer are described using a comprehensive 1-D model.•The axial 1-D model is applied to 3 datasets obtained on bubble columns with low ɛg.•Gas hold-up and mass transfer are affected by contamination and pressure effects.•Global apparent mass transfer coefficient KLa is lower than axial averaged .•The depletion effect in the gas is emphasized in tall bubble columns and with low db. This study proposed to develop a model coupling hydrodynamics and mass transfer in order to gain an understanding of measurements taken on air–water bubble columns with low gas hold-up. Three experimental datasets with various operating conditions (water quality, liquid height, air flow range) were chosen. The model analyzes and interprets the significant impact of the local hydrostatic pressure and the effects of contamination on hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters. The oxygen concentration in gas significantly depletes with the distance from diffusers, which explains the difference between the calculated mean of the local and global KLa coefficients. This difference is highly significant for a high bubble column and/or systems with a low mean bubble size. The impact of water quality on mass transfer can be characterized by the contamination angle using comprehensive 1-D modeling and highlights a differentiated impact on the hydrodynamic or mass transfer parameters.