Measurement of interfacial area in bubble columns by the sulphite method

Abstract

The reaction rate constant and the reaction order with respect to oxygen and sulphite are determined in the paper from the rate of absorption of oxygen into aqueous sulphite solutions catalyzed by cobalt ions. The measurements were carried out in a mixed cell with quiescent liquid level. The utility of the results is discussed for the measurement of interfacial area in bubble columns. The knowledge of the interfacial area is important both for design and calculation of chemical gas-liquid reactors. A most convenient method of determining this parameter is indirect evaluation from the absorption rates of a suitable model reaction. With regard to the various requirements put on such reaction (the knowledge of the reaction mechanism and kinetics, reasonable costs of the chemicals used for large-scale experiments) the choice is rather limited. The study of such model reactions has been the subject of numerous papers; the most significant ones are summarized in the monograph by Danckwerts 1. The often cited reaction is oxidation of sulphite ions by oxygen catalyzed by salts of heavy metals. The reaction scheme may be written as'