Effect of surfactants on the rate of solid-liquid mass transfer in packed bubble columns

The effect of sodium lauryl sulphate (anionic) and Triton X-100 (nonionic) on the solid-liquid mass transfer at a gas-sparged fixed bed of copper Raschig rings was studied by measuring the diffusion-controlled dissolution of copper rings in acidified chromate solution. The variables studied were the nitrogen flow rate, the type of surfactant, and the surfactant concentration. It was found that an increase occurs in the solid-liquid mass transfer coefficient with increasing the nitrogen flow rate. Increasing the surfactant concentration was found to decrease the mass transfer coefficient. For a given surfactant concentration, it was found that Triton X-100 reduces the mass transfer coefficient more than sodium lauryl sulphate.