CORRELATION OF MASS-TRANSFER VOLUMETRIC COEFFICIENT WITH POWER INPUT IN STIRRED LIQUID-LIQUID DISPERSIONS

A continuous-phase mass transfer volumetric coefficient kLa in stirred liquid-liquid dispersions was measured under many stirring conditions by using the hydrolysis reaction of ester with sodium hydroxide. Droplet diameter was also observed with a microscope during the period of reaction progress, allowing the continuous-phase mass transfer coefficient kLto be determined. The resultant kLwas correlated with the power input per unit volume and the Sauter mean diameter d32. With the help of the kLcorrelation equation, d32was well correlated with the power input per unit volume swept out by the impeller. The kLa values estimated from both the kLcorrelation equation and the d32correlation equation agreed well with the observed values. © 1990, The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan. All rights reserved.