Correction of the penetration theory applied for prediction of mass transfer coefficients in a high-pressure bubble column operated with gasoline and toluene

The volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients k(L)a were measured by an optical probe in a 0.102-m (inner diameter) bubble column operated under both ambient (0.1 MPa) and high pressures (0.2, 0.59 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 MPa). The measurement was performed during desorption of oxygen from gasoline and toluene by nitrogen. The superficial gas velocity was varied in the range 0.01-0.2 m(.)s(-1). The classical penetration theory was used for the sake of prediction of the experimental data. The theory was corrected, however, due to the ellipsoidal shape of the bubbles formed in the bed. By applying the new correction factor which is a function only of bubble size, the deviation between experimental k(L)a coefficients and calculated ones for both liquids was 8.8%.