Determination of the aeration capacity of bubble columns by dynamic method. The influence of axial dispersion and of the start-up period

Abstract

A dynamic method for the determination of volumetric mass transfer coefficient of oxygen, kLa, in bubble columns using an oxygen electrode was derived on the basis of a liquid phase axial dispersion model The influence of aeration startup was studied assuming that the kLa value is position and time dependent. The conditions are defined under which the influence of aeration startup and of axial mixing of the liquid upon the steady state kLa value is negligible. A critical assessment has been made of various methods proposed for evaluation of oxygen probe responses.