Effect of coalescence inhibitors on the performance of three-phase inverse fluidized-bed columns

Abstract

Three-phase inverse fluidized beds can be used for wastewater treatment or biochemical reactors. The coalescence inhibitors in the liquid of such reactors greatly affect the hydrodynamics of three-phase inverse fluidized beds. Their effect can not be predicted from the surface tension or even from their behavior in a bubble column. The effect of the inhibitors on the minimum fluidization velocity can be predicted from their effect on gas holdup with an adaptation of the model from Zhang, Epstein, Grace and Zhu (Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, 73 A, 1995, 347–353).