APPLICATION OF A ROTARY DRUM REACTOR TO A DIFFUSION-CONTROLLED LIQUID-SOLID REACTION

A rotary drum reactor has been used to promote the diffusion-controlled reaction between a liquid and a solid, for which the density difference is more than 5 000 kg.m-3. Using the cementation of cuprous ion aqueous solution by iron particles, the performance of the reactor was investigated in terms of an apparent mass transfer coefficient determined experimentally. The apparent mass transfer coefficient increases as the rotational speed and inclination of the reactor increase. The apparent mass transfer coefficient correlates fairly well with the Froude number, irrespective of the size of the reactor.