Hydrodynamic and Mass Transfer Parameters in Agitated Reactors Part II: Gas-Holdup, Sauter Mean Bubble Diameters, Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficients, Gas-Liquid Interfacial Areas, and Liquid-Side Mass Transfer Coefficients

The equilibrium gas solubility (C*), gas-holdup (eG), Sauter mean bubble diameter (dS), volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa), gas-liquid interfacial area (a) and mass transfer coefficient (kL) of N2, O2 and air were measured in an agitated reactor operating in surface-aeration (SAR), gas-inducing (GIR) or gas-sparging (GSR) modes in pure toluene and three mixtures of organic liquids (toluene-benzoic acid-benzaldehyde) aimed at simulating the continuous liquid phase toluene oxidation (LPTO) under wide ranges of temperatures (300-453K), pressures (1-15 bar), mixing speeds (13.3-20.0 Hz), superficial gas velocities (0.000-0.004 m/s in the GSR) and liquid heights (0.171-0.268m in the SAR and GIR). C* values of the gases in the organic liquids were calculated using a modified Peng-Robinson Equation-of-State and kLa data were determined using the Transient Physical Absorption technique. The bubble size distributions as well as dS were obtained from the Photographic method, and eG values were measured through the Dispersion Height technique using the reactor's Jerguson windows. From eG, dS and kLa experimental values, a and kL were calculated under various operating conditions. The Central Composite Statistical Design and analysis technique was used to study the effect of operating conditions on the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters. Statistical correlations were also developed to predict the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters obtained in this study with confidence levels > 95%. These correlations could be used to model, design and scale-up the LPTO process in agitated reactors.