Separation Science and EngineeringUse of axial dispersion model for determination of Sherwood number and mass transfer coefficients in a perforated rotating disc contactor

The mass transfer process in a perforated rotating disk contactor (PRDC) using a toluene-acetone-water system was investigated. The volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients are calculated in a PRDC column. Both mass transfer directions are considered in experiments. The influences of operating variables containing agitation rate, dispersed and continuous phase flow rates and mass transfer in the extraction column are studied. According to obtained results, mass transfer is significantly dependent on agitation rate, while the dispersed and continuous phase flow rates have a minor effect on mass transfer in the extraction column. Furthermore, a novel empirical correlation is developed for prediction of overall continuous phase Sherwood number based on dispersed phase holdup, Reynolds number and mass transfer direction. There has been great agreement between experimental data and predicted values using a proposed correlation for all operating conditions.