Empirical correlation of volumetric mass transfer coefficient for a rectangular internal-loop airlift bioreactor. Issue 4 (23rd May 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Sean X.; Hermanowicz, Slawomir W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental engineering and science. Volume 7:Issue 4(2008)
• Page Start: 411
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2008-05-23
• Subjects: environment -- airlift bioreactor -- gas holdup -- wastewater treatment -- internal-loop rectangular bioreactor; bioréacteur à agitation par bullage d'air -- retenue de gaz -- traitement des eaux usées -- bioréacteur rectangulaire à boucle interne; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Canada -- Periodicals; Environnement, Technique de l' -- Périodiques; Technique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Environnement, Technique de l' -- Canada -- Périodiques; Environmental engineering; Sanitary engineering; Canada; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; Periodicals; 628.05
• DOI: 10.1139/S08-012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1496-2551

Abstract

Abstract : An empirical correlation of volumetric mass transfer coefficient was developed for a pilot-scale internal-loop rectangular airlift bioreactor that was designed for biotechnology. The empirical correlation combines classic turbulence theory, Kolmogorov's isotropic turbulence theory with Higbie's penetration theory. The simulation results based on the correlation suggested that the loading of polyethylene granules (for microbial colony support) in the bioreactor had little effect on the mass transfer coefficient of oxygen gas in the reactor, however, the gas superficial velocity was shown to affect the mass transfer coefficient substantially. These simulation results are comparable to the experimental results from a similar, albeit smaller in volume, three-phase internal-loop rectangular reactor in the literature.