Mass transfer behaviour of a fixed bed electrochemical reactor with a gas evolving upstream counter electrode

Abstract

AbstractMass transfer rates were determined at a horizontal screen cathode stirred by oxygen bubbles evolved at a horizontal anode placed below the screen by measuring the limiting current of the cathodic reduction of ferricyanide ion from alkaline solution. Variables studied were oxygen discharge rate, ferricyanide concentration and number of closely packed screens forming the cathode. For a single screen cathode the data were correlated by the equation:J = 0.249 (Re Fr)‐0.25The mass transfer coefficient was found to decrease with increasing the number of screens forming the cathode. Implications of the present work for improving the performance of the flow‐through packed bed electrochemical reactor were highlighted.