Mass Transfer Studies in Stirred AirLift Reactor

Abstract

In the present work, water and three phase compositions of Solka-Floc, a cellulose fiber for simulating the biomass in bacteria, yeast, and fungal fermentation were studied in a 1.4 m3 stirred airlift reactor. The fractional dispersed phase holdup and the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients were measured. The dispersed phase riser gas holdup and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients both increased with increasing riser superficial dispersed phase velocity (0.02–0.1 ms−1) and agitator speed in the range of 0–5 rs−1. An increase in the Solka-Floc concentration (1–3% w/v) was found to reduce ϵGR and K L a L . Empirical correlations have been developed for fractional dispersed phase gas holdup and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients.