Hydrodynamic studies with foaming and non‐newtonian solutions in bubble columns

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Experiments were conducted in 0.05 m ID and 0.23 m ID by 3 m tall bubble columns to study the effect of surfactants and viscosity of liquid medium on gas hold‐up and Sauter mean bubble diameter. The addition of n‐butanol (0.5 and 1 wt.%) to water leads to the formation of foam and consequently produces higher gas hold‐ups. The foam could be eliminated completely with the addition of a sufficient quantity (0.5 wt.%) of carboxymethyl cellulose to the aqueous alcohol solution. In the absence of foam, gas hold‐ups were similar to those obtained with pure liquids. Sauter mean bubble diameters, obtained using the dynamic gas disengagement technique, increase with viscosity of liquid medium.