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Bubble size distribution and mass transfer on a three-phase electroflotation column

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Abstract

This work aims to experimentally study the bubble size distribution and the oxygen transfer on the electroflotation process. The distribution of bubbles was measured using a high-speed camera. The measurements were conducted in a three-phase electroflotaion column (water- gas-olive stone) equipped with insoluble electrodes, stainless steel as cathode and titanium, covered with ruthenium oxide, as anode. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient kla was determined for some operating parameters such as current density, solid concentrations and sizes. In order to calculate the global coefficient of mass transfer kl, the specific interfacial area, a, was determined. It was chiefly found that bubble size distribution depends on current density and solid concentration, and the wide range of bubble sizes was found to be affected by the phenomenon of break up and coalescence. kla tended to decrease with the increase of solid concentrations. kl exhibited the same behavior as the volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The experimental results were also fitted with the theoretical models, relating ‘kla’, ‘kl’ and ‘a’ with Reynolds number, Schmidt number and operating conditions.

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Abbreviations

a :

Specific interfacial area (m2 m−3)

A :

Gas liquid interface area (m2)

C :

Oxygen concentration (Kg m−3)

C* :

The saturated oxygen concentration in liquid phase (Kg m−3)

C 0 :

The initial dissolved oxygen concentration (Kg m−3)

C s :

Solid concentration (Kg m−3)

d B :

Bubble diameter (m)

D O2 :

Diffusion coefficient (m2 s−1)

dp :

Particle diameter (m)

G :

The slip velocity (m s−1)

H d :

Expanded height of the gas liquid solid bed (m)

H s :

Static height of the liquid bed (m)

J :

Current density (A m−2)

k L :

The liquid side mass transfer coefficient (m s−1)

k L a :

The volumetric mass transfer coefficient (s−1)

l :

The lap course of the bubble at time t

Re :

Reynolds number

Sc :

Schmidt number

T:

Solution temperature (°C)

tc :

The effective contact time

U G :

The superficial gas velocity (m s−1)

U L :

The superficial liquid velocity (m s−1)

V :

aerated liquid volume (m3)

V B :

Bubble rise velocity (m s−1)

V G :

Gas volume (m3)

V l :

Liquid volume (m3)

V s :

Solid volume (m3)

x :

The major axis of the ellipse (m)

y :

The minor axis of the ellipse (m)

μl :

Liquid viscosity (Pa.s)

μm :

Mixture viscosity (Pa.s)

Ɛ g :

Gas hold up

Ɛs :

Solid hold up

Ɵ :

The temperature correction factor

ρ L :

Liquid density (Kg m−3)

ρ m :

Mixture density (kg m−3)

Ψ s :

The volume fraction of the solid in the mixture

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Fluid Mechanics – Process Engineering and Environment Sciences Faculty of Sfax, B.P.802, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Maroua Mejri & Lassaad Ben Mansour

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  1. Maroua Mejri
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  2. Lassaad Ben Mansour
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Correspondence to Maroua Mejri.

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Mejri, M., Mansour, L.B. Bubble size distribution and mass transfer on a three-phase electroflotation column. Heat Mass Transfer 55, 2235–2245 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-019-02582-5

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