Abstract
Agitation of two immiscible liquids or solid-liquid suspension is a frequent operation in chemical and metallurgical industries. Prediction of mean drop/particle size and drop/particle size distribution (DSD) is vital for emulsification, suspension polymerization, solid particle dispersion or crystallization. Simulation of particulate systems requires the knowledge of DSD and its time evolution. The time evolution of drop size distribution was investigated in baffled vessel mechanically agitated by a Rushton turbine and a high-shear tooth impeller. The system water –silicone oil was used as a model liquid. The volume fraction of the dispersed phase was 0.047 %. The drop sizes were determined by image analysis. The time evolution of the drops size dp32 was studied for both impellers tested. The model used involves the first order kinetics. Finally, the following correlations predicted by the Kolmogorov-Hinze theory were evaluated at steady state: dp32/D = C1.We-0.6 and dpmax/D = C2.We-0.6, where We is the impeller Weber number.
Highlights
Agitation of two immiscible liquids or solid-liquid suspension is a frequent operation in chemical and metallurgical industries
Simulation of particulate systems requires the knowledge of drop/particle size distribution (DSD) and its time evolution
The drop sizes were determined by image analysis
Summary
Agitation of two immiscible liquids or solid-liquid suspension is a frequent operation in chemical and metallurgical industries. As an example it can serve suspension/emulsion polymerization, heterogeneous /phase-transfer catalytic chemical reaction and hydrometallurgical solvent extraction. Simulation of particulate systems requires the knowledge of DSD and its time evolution. Such description is rare in the literature. The aim of this contribution is to investigate the time evolution of drop size distribution in baffled vessel mechanically agitated by a Rushton turbine and a highshear tooth impeller. The drop size will be determined by an image analysis. In a subsequent analysis the minimum number of drops necessary to obtain relevant data was evaluated for each speed of the impeller
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