Interstitial Liquid Research Articles

Contact interaction between bodies with wavy relief taking into account interstitial compressible liquid

The non-frictional contact between two semi-infinite elastic bodies, one of which has a wavy surface, is considered for the case of interface gaps filled with a compressible barotropic liquid. The contact problem formulated is reduced to a singular integral equation (SIE) with the Hilbert kernel, which is transformed into a SIE with the Cauchy kernel for a derivative of a height of the gaps. A system of transcendental equations for a width of the gaps and a pressure of the liquid is obtained from the condition of boundedness of the SIE solution at the integration interval ends and the equation of state of a compressible barotropic liquid, and then it is solved numerically. The dependences of the width and shape of the gaps, the pressure of the liquid, the average normal displacement and contact compliance of the bodies on the applied load and bulk modulus of the liquid are analyzed.

The Skaergaard Intrusion of East Greenland: Paradigms, Problems and New Perspectives

The Skaergaard Intrusion of East Greenland is the quintessential example of low-pressure closed-system fractionation of basaltic magma. Field evidence of extensive layering and associated quasi-sedimentary structures, and the resultant ‘cumulate’ paradigm of crystal settling in magma chambers, has led to many long-standing controversies. Of particular significance is the lack of consensus about the microstructural record and the mechanisms by which interstitial liquid is expelled from solidifying crystal mushy zones. Skaergaard remains a cradle for new insights into igneous processes, with recent work highlighting the importance of separation of immiscible liquids on magma evolution.

Jetting formation of the explosively loaded powders

The formation of jet-like structures is widely reported in the explosive dispersal of powders surrounding high explosive charges. The jetting of powder beds initiates upon the shock wave reaches the outer edge of the charge. Opposed to the interface instability theory, a hollow sphere based bulk fragmentation model is established to account for the jetting of powders. A two-phase process, namely the nucleation and free expansion of hollow spheres, corresponds to the unloading process of the powder compact caused by the rarefaction waves which governs the fragmentation of the powders. The separation between adjacent hollow spheres dictates the size of the particle clusters, which would evolve into particle jets in later times. The predicted breakup time and the size of particle jets agree well with the experimental results. The increased moisture content in powders results in an increased number of particle jets. This moisture effect can be understood in light of the varied energy distribution due to the incompressibility of the interstitial liquids trapped inside the inter-grain pores. The portion of shock energy which is not consumed in the shock compaction of the wet powders would be dissipated through the viscous shear flows during the unloading of the wet powder compact. The excessive viscous energy requires to activate more localized shear flows, accordingly leading to an increased number of particle jets.

Microtextural characterisation of the Lower Zone in the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa: evidence for extensive melt migration within a sill complex

The Lower Zone of the Bushveld Complex comprises an up to 2-km-thick package of different ultramafic rock types with an approx. 90-cm-thick, sulphide-bearing noritic interval that occurs in the western and eastern limbs. The distribution and geometry of the zone are highly variable across the Complex, showing pronounced, yet laterally discontinuous layering on different scales. Together with the ubiquitous lack of large-scale fractionation in the Mg# of orthopyroxene, variable Sr isotope compositions and erratic Pt/Pd ratios, these observations strongly suggest an emplacement of the Lower Zone as a sill complex, as these contrasting geochemical characteristics are difficult to account for in a large Bushveld magma chamber, as previously suggested. It is more likely that these sills were episodically fed from a sub-Bushveld staging chamber, and variably contaminated, while passing through the crust before their final emplacement in the Lower Zone. Detailed mineralogical and microtextural work based on high-resolution elemental mapping of a set of samples, covering the entire Lower Zone stratigraphy of the western Bushveld shows that the variations in the late crystallising interstitial mineral mode are different from what would be expect, if all phases crystallised from a fixed initial mass of interstitial liquid. The interstitial mineral mode, represented by plagioclase, clinopyroxene and other late stage phases, shows variable ratios of these minerals ranging from ca. 21:15:64 to 75:17:8. In comparison to modelled expected ratios, most of the analysed rocks have higher amounts of early crystallising interstitial phases (e.g. plagioclase, clinopyroxene), relative to late crystallising phases (e.g. quartz, alkali feldspar). Therefore, interstitial melt must have migrated at different stages of fractionation during cumulate solidification, as a consequence of either compaction or displacement by convecting interstitial liquids. Two samples, however, show the opposite: late phases are relatively more abundant than early ones, which is consistent with a convection-driven replacement of primitive interstitial liquid by more evolved liquid. These results have important implications for the interpretation of the Lower Zone and, by extension, for layered intrusions in general: (1) interstitial sulphide mineralisation may be introduced into a cumulate through infiltrating melts, i.e. the liquid components of a sulphur-saturated crystal mush are not withheld from further migration, upon interaction with a cumulate pile; (2) most importantly, late stage minerals, such as zircon, rarely crystallise from trapped liquid that was initially in equilibrium with the cumulate. Therefore, dating of interstitial zircon from cumulates is unlikely to record the actual timing of emplacement, but merely the crystallisation of a later episode of residual melt that migrated through the cumulate.

Foam fractionation for recovering whey soy protein from whey wastewater: Strengthening foam drainage using a novel internal component with superhydrophobic surface

Whey soy proteins (WSP) are acid soluble proteins massively existed in the whey wastewater from the process of soybean protein isolate (SPI) manufacture and they possess high nutritive values and good functional properties. For effectively recovering WSP from the whey wastewater by using foam fractionation, a novel foam column fitted with the cross internal covered by a superhydrophobic coating (SHC) was developed to strengthen foam drainage. The experimental results indicated that SHC could significantly strengthen foam drainage through decreasing the flow resistance of the interstitial liquid in the exterior channels at room temperature. The suitable length of the cross internal with SHC was 600mm and the drainage velocity was dramatically accelerated when it was installed at 50mm from the top of the column. Under the suitable operation conditions, enrichment ratio and recovery percentage of WSP reached 10.5 and 82.3%, respectively. This work provides a new light for strengthening foam drainage at room temperature and facilitates of the industrialization of foam fractionation.

Formation of brine channels in sea ice.

Liquid salty micro-channels (brine) between growing ice platelets in sea ice are an important habitat for CO2-binding microalgaea with great impact on polar ecosystems. The structure formation of ice platelets is microscopically described and a phase field model is developed. The pattern formation during solidification of the two-dimensional interstitial liquid is considered by two coupled order parameters, the tetrahedricity as structure of ice and the salinity. The coupling and time evolution of these order parameters are described by a consistent set of three model parameters. They determine the velocity of the freezing process and the structure formation, the phase diagram, the super-cooling and super-heating region, and the specific heat. The model is used to calculate the short-time frozen micro-structures. The obtained morphological structure is compared with the vertical brine pore space obtained from X-ray computed tomography.

Scaling of wet granular flows in a rotating drum

In this work, we investigate the effect of capillary forces and particle size on wet granular flows and we propose a scaling methodology that ensures the conservation of the bed flow. We validate the scaling law experimentally by using different size glass beads with tunable capillary forces. The latter is obtained using mixtures of ethanol-water as interstitial liquid and by increasing the hydrophobicity of glass beads with an ad-hoc silanization procedure. The scaling methodology in the flow regimes considered (slipping, slumping and rolling) yields similar bed flow for different particle sizes including the angle of repose that normally increases when decreasing the particle size.

Investigation into macroscopic and microscopic behaviors of wet granular soils using discrete element method and X-ray computed tomography

We present an investigation into macroscopic and microscopic behaviors of wet granular soils using the discrete element method (DEM) and the X-ray Computed Tomography (XRCT) observations. The specimens are first prepared in very loose states, with frictional spherical grains in the presence of a small amount of an interstitial liquid. Experimental oedometric tests are carried out with small glass beads, while DEM simulations implement a model of spherical grains joined by menisci. Both in experiments and in simulations, loose configurations with solid fraction as low as 0.30 are prepared under low stress, and undergo a gradual collapse in compression, until the solid fraction of cohesionless bead packs (0.58 to 0.6) is obtained. In the XRCT tests, four 3D tomography images corresponding to different typical stages of the compression curve are used to characterize the microstructure.

Silicic magma differentiation in ascent conduits. Experimental constraints

Crystallization of water-bearing silicic magmas in a dynamic thermal boundary layer is reproduced experimentally by using the intrinsic thermal gradient of piston-cylinder assemblies. The standard AGV2 andesite under water-undersaturated conditions is set to crystallize in a dynamic thermal gradient of about 35°C/mm in 10mm length capsules. In the hotter area of the capsule, the temperature is initially set at 1200°C and decreases by programmed cooling at two distinct rates of 0.6 and 9.6°C/h. Experiments are conducted in horizontally arranged assemblies in a piston cylinder apparatus to avoid any effect of gravity settling and compaction of crystals in long duration runs. The results are conclusive about the effect of water-rich fluids that are expelled out the crystal-rich zone (mush), where water saturation is reached by second boiling in the interstitial liquid. Expelled fluids migrate to the magma ahead of the solidification front contributing to a progressive enrichment in the fluxed components SiO2, K2O and H2O. The composition of water-rich fluids is modelled by mass balance using the chemical composition of glasses (quenched melt). The results are the basis for a model of granite magma differentiation in thermally-zoned conduits with application of in-situ crystallization equations. The intriguing textural and compositional features of the typical autoliths, accompanying granodiorite–tonalite batholiths, can be explained following the results of this study, by critical phenomena leading to splitting of an initially homogeneous magma into two magma systems with sharp boundaries. Magma splitting in thermal boundary layers, formed at the margins of ascent conduits, may operate for several km distances during magma transport from deep sources at the lower crust or upper mantle. Accordingly, conduits may work as chromatographic columns contributing to increase the silica content of ascending magmas and, at the same time, leave behind residual mushes that eventually are dragged as enclaves or autoliths.

CFD-DEM simulation of liquid-solid fluidized bed with dynamic restitution coefficient

In liquid-solid fluidized beds, the existence of interstitial liquid among colliding particles generates more energy dissipation than that in the gas-solid fluidized bed. In this paper, a numerical modelling method to account for the energy dissipation by means of dynamic restitution coefficient for wet particles in liquid-solid fluidized beds is evaluated. The dynamic restitution coefficient model is based on a semi-empirical correlation generated from freely falling particles bouncing on a wet plate. We employed the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to numerically investigate the hydrodynamics of wet particles under the effect of interstitial fluid by incorporating dynamic restitution coefficient into damping coefficient. Simulation of the liquid-solid two-phase flow used a coupled DEM-Navier Stokes solver. Simulated distribution of granular pressure as well as particle velocities in the liquid fluidized beds were in good agreement with experimental data, thus the effects of dynamic restitution coefficient on the hydrodynamics of wet particle fluidization should be considered in numerical simulations. Two granular pressure models were also compared at different solid fraction for different particle sizes, the results indicated that Gidaspow's granular pressure model shows better predicted results when applied for small particles, while Batchelor's model provided more reasonable results for particles with larger diameter.

Hydrodynamically-driven drug release during interstitial flow through hollow fibers implanted near lymphatics

Current drug delivery devices (DDD) are mainly based on the use of diffusion as the main transport process. Diffusion-driven processes can only achieve low release rate because diffusion is a slow process. This represents a serious obstacle in the realization of recent successes in the suppression of lymphatic metastasis and in the prevention of limb and organ transplant rejection. Surprisingly, it was overlooked that there is a more favorable drug release mode which can be achieved when a special DDD is implanted near lymphatics. This opportunity can be realized when the interstitial fluid flow penetrates a drug delivery device of proper design and allows such fluid to flow out of it. This design is based on hollow fibers loaded with drug and whose hydrodynamic permeability is much higher than that of the surrounding tissue. The latter is referred to as hollow fiber of high hydrodynamic permeability (HFHP). The interstitial flow easily penetrates the hollow fiber membrane as well as its lumen with a higher velocity than that in the adjacent tissue. The interstitial liquid stream entering the lumen becomes almost saturated with drug as it flows out of the HFHP. This is due to the drug powder dissolution in the lumens of HFHP which forms a strip of drug solution that crosses the interstitium and finally enters the lymphatics. This hydrodynamically-driven release (HDR) may exceed the concomitant diffusion-driven release (DDR) by one or even two orders of magnitude. The hydrodynamics of the two-compartment media is sufficient for developing the HDR theory which is detailed in this paper. Convective diffusion theory for two compartments (membrane of hollow fiber and adjacent tissue) is required for exact quantification when a small contribution of DDR to predominating HDR is present. Hence, modeling is important for HDR which would lead to establishing a new branch in physico-chemical hydrodynamics. The release rate achieved with the use of HFHP increases proportional to the number of hollow fibers in the fabric employed in drug delivery. Based on this contribution, it is now possible to simultaneously provide high release rates and long release durations, thus overcoming a fundamental limitation in drug delivery. Perhaps this breakthrough in long-term drug delivery has potential applications in targeting lymphatics and in treating cancer and cancer metastasis without causing the serious side effects of systemic drugs.

Petrology of a Neoproterozoic Alaskan-type complex from the Eastern Desert of Egypt: Implications for mantle heterogeneity

This paper details petrological and geochemical studies of an ultramafic–mafic intrusion in the Southern Eastern Desert of Egypt. The Dahanib complex shows a concentric zonation, from dunites at the core, through chromitites, clinopyroxene-rich dunites, wehrlites, harzburgites, gabbronorites and layered gabbros, to hornblende gabbros/diorites at the rim, similar to other Alaskan-type complexes. These lithologies typically feature cumulate textures and layering. Their pyroxenes (Mg#s, 0.54–0.94) evidence Fe, Mn and Na enrichment, but Al, Cr, Mg and Ti are depleted with differentiation. Their chromian spinels have a wide range of Cr# (0.31–0.61), along with high Ti and Fe, as a result of their origin through crystal accumulation and reaction with interstitial liquids. The clinopyroxenes (Cpxs) in peridotites and gabbroic rocks, which are high in REE concentration (2–100 times chondrite), are depleted in LREE relative to HREE and are similar to Cpx crystallized from asthenospheric melts. The mineral inclusions in spinel, the chemistry of Cpx in peridotites (rich in Al, Cr, Na, Ti and ΣREE=13.7), and the melts in equilibrium with Cpx suggest that the Neoproterozoic lithosphere were partially refertilized by trace asthenospheric melts. The early magmas were possibly enriched by Mg, Cr, Ni, Ti, V and Sr, while the evolved types were rich in Fe, Mn, Na, Li, Zr, Co and REE via crystal accumulation and the interaction with interstitial liquids. The Neoproterozoic sub-arc mantle in Egypt is chemically heterogeneous and generally low in Nb, Ta, Zr and K, due to the low solubility of HFSE in slab-derived fluids and no other external addition of these elements. The large variations in lithology and chemistry, as well as the occurrence of scattered chromitite clots in the Dahanib peridotites, are related to a continuous supply of primitive magmas and/or the reaction between interstitial liquids and early cumulus crystals during multistage fractional crystallization. The Dahanib Alaskan-type rocks were fractionally crystallized from the hydrous tholeiitic-basaltic melts associated with a continuous supply of primitive magmas at the mantle–crust boundary in a sub-arc setting. Their parental melts are a mixture of the sub-arc mantle-derived melts associated with trace asthenospheric melts from the mantle diapir. The changes in lithology type, mineral composition, and chemistry between the Dahanib intrusion and the nearest intrusions can perhaps be attributed to mantle heterogeneity by several mantle plumes and to slab-derived inputs. These two causes could explain the large variety of parental magmas for Alaskan-type intrusions. There is a genetic link between the origins of ophiolites and Alaskan-type complexes because both of them originated in the sub-arc setting and both exhibit extension characteristics and subduction-zone components.

Lime as an Anti-Plasticizer for Self-Compacting Clay Concrete.

This paper focuses on the modification of clay properties with inorganic additives to deflocculate and flocculate inorganic soil for the development of a material that would be as easy to use as the current concrete products, but with a much lower environmental impact. Considering that the rheological behaviour of clays is controlled by their surface charge, we first introduce potential determining ions to deflocculate the clay particles and to reduce the yield stress of the earth material. Their efficiency is characterized using zeta potential measurements and rheological tests. We then achieve the flocculation of clay particles by using natural minerals that slowly dissolve in the interstitial liquid and ultimately precipitate calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H). The precipitation products are identified by X-ray diffraction and the consequences of this delayed precipitation are followed by oscillatory rheometric measurements. Finally, it is suggested that in this process, C–S–H precipitation is not used as a binding vector but as an anti-plasticizer that removes the inorganic dispersant additives.

Linear analysis of melt band formation in a mid-ocean ridge corner flow

Imposing external shear on systems of partial melt can cause compaction of the solid matrix and concentration of the interstitial liquid melt thereby generating bands of contrasting high and low porosity. These shear-induced porosity bands have been proposed to channel melt beneath a mid-ocean ridge (MOR). In this contribution, we impose a shear flow that evolves as the bands are transported along streamlines of MOR corner flow. We evaluate the suitability of porosity band formation as a mechanism for melt channeling beneath a MOR using a linear instability analysis with three different matrix viscosity conditions: isotropic strain rate independent, isotropic strain rate dependent, and anisotropic. Our analysis shows that the largest amplitude bands channel melt away from the ridge axis toward the base of the plate at the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, while the effectiveness of channeling through the bands is highly dependent on the mantle bulk viscosity.

Meso-hydro-mechanically informed effective stresses and effective pressures for saturated and unsaturated porous media

Abstract Based on the meso-structured Voronoi cell model and the meso-macro homogenization procedure between the discrete particle assembly and the porous continuum for wet granular materials, meso-hydro-mechanically informed effective pressure and effective stress measures for saturated and unsaturated porous media are defined. The meso-hydro-mechanically informed generalized effective stress for saturated porous continua taking into account the volumetric deformation of solid grains due to pore liquid pressure is derived. The Biot coefficient associated to the meso-hydro- mechanically informed generalized effective stress for saturated porous media is formulated. The differences of the definitions for proposed generalized effective stress and Biot coefficient compared with those defined in the generalized Biot theory of saturated porous continua and in averaging theories are discussed. The wet meso-structured Voronoi cell model, consisting of three immiscible and interrelated (i.e. solid grains, interstitial liquid and gas) phases, at low bulk saturation (below about 30%) is proposed. A meso-structural pattern with the binary bond mode of pendular liquid bridges is assumed in particular to derive the meso-hydro- mechanically informed macroscopic anisotropic effective pressure and effective stress tensors for unsaturated porous media. As the isotropic case of the wet meso-structured Voronoi cell model is considered, the meso-hydro-mechanically informed effective pressure tensor degrades to the scalar variable in the same form as in the theory of macroscopic unsaturated porous continua. The proposed meso-hydro-mechanically informed Bishop's parameter is derived and obtained as a function of saturation, porosity, and meso-structural parameters, without need to introduce any macroscopic phenomenological assumptions for the description of hydro-mechanical constitutive behavior.

Bubble migration in a compacting crystal-liquid mush

Recent theoretical models have suggested that bubbles are unlikely to undergo significant migration in a compaction crystal mush by capillary invasion while the system remains partly molten. To test this, experiments of bubble migration during compaction in a crystal-liquid mush were modeled using deformable foam crystals in corn syrup in a volumetric burette, compacted with rods of varying weights. A bubble source was provided by sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer®). Large bubbles (>several crystal sizes) are pinched by the compacting matrix and become overpressured and deformed as the bubbles experience a load change from hydrostatic to lithostatic. Once they begin to move, they move much faster than the compaction-driven liquid. Bubbles that are about the same size as the crystals but larger than the narrower pore throats move by deformation or breaking into smaller bubbles as they are forced through pore restrictions. Bubbles that are less than the typical pore diameter generally move with the liquid: The liquid + bubble mixture behaves as a single phase with a lower density than the bubble-free liquid, and as a consequence it rises faster than bubble-free liquid and allows for faster compaction. The overpressure required to force a bubble through the matrix (max grain size = 5 mm) is modest, about 5 %, and it is estimated that for a grain size of 1 mm, the required overpressure would be about 25 %. Using apatite distribution in a Stillwater olivine gabbro as an analog for bubble nucleation and growth, it is suggested that relatively large bubbles initially nucleate and grow in liquid-rich channels that develop late in the compaction history. Overpressure from compaction allows bubbles to rise higher into hotter parts of the crystal pile, where they redissolve and increase the volatile content of the liquid over what it would have without the bubble migration, leading to progressively earlier vapor saturation during crystallization of the interstitial liquid. Bubbles can also move rapidly by ‘surfing’ on porosity waves that can develop in a compacting mush.

Ligation of RNA Oligomers by the Schistosoma mansoni Hammerhead Ribozyme in Frozen Solution.

The interstitial liquid phase within frozen aqueous solutions is an environment that minimizes RNA degradation and facilitates reactions that may have relevance to the RNA World hypothesis. Previous work has shown that frozen solutions support condensation of activated nucleotides into RNA oligomers, RNA ligation by the hairpin ribozyme, and RNA synthesis by a RNA polymerase ribozyme. In the current study, we examined the activity of a hammerhead ribozyme (HHR) in frozen solution. The Schistosoma mansoni hammerhead ribozyme, which predominantly cleaves RNA, can ligate its cleaved products (P1 and P2) with yields up to ~23% in single turnover experiments at 25°C in the presence of Mg(2+). Our studies show that this HHR ligates RNA oligomers in frozen solution in the absence of divalent cations. Citrate and other anions that exhibit strong ion-water affinity enhanced ligation. Yields up to 43% were observed in one freeze-thaw cycle and a maximum of 60% was obtained after several freeze-thaw cycles using wild-type P1 and P2. Truncated and mutated P1 substrates were ligated to P2 with yields of 14-24% in one freeze-thaw cycle. A pool of P2 substrates with mixtures of all four bases at five positions were ligated with P1 in frozen solution. High-throughput sequencing indicated that 70 of the 1024 possible P2 sequences were represented in ligated products at 1000 or more read counts per million reads. The results indicate that the HHR can ligate a range of short RNA oligomers into an ensemble of diverse sequences in ice.

Giant plagioclase basalts: Continental flood basalt–induced remobilization of anorthositic mushes in a deep crustal sill complex

Giant plagioclase basalts, rich in plagioclase megacrysts commonly 5 cm long, form widespread lava flows and dikes in the Deccan Traps continental flood basalt province. They also occur in the Scottish Hebrides, Columbia River, and Emeishan continental flood basalt provinces, and closely similar rocks are known from Archean and Proterozoic terrains and oceanic settings. The giant plagioclase basalts have usually been interpreted as end products of magmatic cycles operating in high-level chambers, and taken as the boundaries of stratigraphic formations. A new model is proposed in which the plagioclase megacrysts grow over long (15 k.y.) time periods in a deep crustal (possibly Moho-level) sill complex, which forms tens to hundreds of thousands of years before the continental flood basalt eruptions. Megacryst flotation produces anorthositic mushes containing ferrodioritic interstitial liquids. Giant plagioclase basalts form when these components (and any melt from the crust heated by the sill complex) are remobilized by a newly injected tholeiitic magma batch, and brought to the surface or high crustal levels by dikes. Giant plagioclase basalts are thus mixed, heterogeneous rocks from the deep continental crust. The new model explains a range of geological, petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical data on the giant plagioclase basalts. Formation and remobilization of anorthositic mushes appear to be fundamental processes producing highly feldspar-phyric basalts over a wide range of tectonic settings. An important corollary of the new model is that anorthosites have continued to form well after the Precambrian, on a smaller scale, during Phanerozoic continental flood basalt events. Therefore, continental flood basalt provinces should be recognized as sites of anorthosite formation in the deep continental crust.

Assessment of the water sectors of organism before birth in pregnant women with normal pregnancy

Aim of research – the study of possibilities and the ground of objective assessment of the water balance of organism before birth. Methods. There were examined 85 women divided into two groups depending on pregnancy or its absence. In the main group examination was carried out at admission to the delivery room for delivery. The study of the water spaces and sectors of organism was carried out using the method of integral dual-frequency impedometry. Results. The results of research demonstrated that at the normal pregnancy the whole water volume in organism increased by 22,6 % to the time of birth. An increase of the volume of extracellular liquid to the end of the 3th term of pregnancy was caused by increase of the interstitial liquid volume by 32,4 %. Conclusion. The timely objective assessment of the water balance during pregnancy, birth and in postnatal period allows to define the differential approach to infusion therapy depending on state and ratio of the water sectors of organism and to raise the quality of medical help that is realized in postnatal period

Hydrodynamics of Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids in internal-loop airlift reactors

Airlift reactors have numerous applications in processing industries, and thus the hydrodynamic behaviors using fluids that have distinct rheological characteristics need to be better understood for the successful design and operation of these devices. In this sense, the novelty of this study is to evaluate the influence of the energy losses in each reactor region on the interstitial liquid velocity (VLR), and to provide correlations for prediction of gas hold-ups (εR and εD) and VLR for a wide range of physical and rheological properties of the liquid, using different models (draft-tube—DTA, split-cylinder—SCA) and scales (5 and 10L) of airlift reactors. Gas hold-ups were determined by a manometric method, and VLR was calculated by circulation time of spheres with the same liquid density. Energy losses were calculated using a semi-theoretical method. The total energy dissipated in the riser and downcomer was greater for DTA reactors, whereas in the bottom was greater for SCA reactors. Non-Newtonian fluids showed higher VLR in SCA reactors, while the opposite was observed for Newtonian fluids. Excellent fits to the experimental data were achieved using simple correlations to predict εR and εD, as well as dimensionless correlations that incorporated the desired parameter (VLR).