Mass transfer performance in an asymmetric rotating disc contactor

• The mass transfer performance is investigated in an ARDC column.
• Mass transfer performance is interpreted in terms of the axial diffusion model.
• The effects of operating variables on the column performance are investigated.
• Empirical correlations are derived for prediction of overall mass transfer coefficient.
• These correlations can be used to calculate the column height for different processes.

The volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients have been measured in a pilot scale asymmetric rotating disc contactor of 113 mm diameter for the toluene–water–acetone system. The experiments are carried out for both mass transfer directions. The effects of operational variables such as rotor speed and continuous and dispersed phase velocities on mass transfer performance are investigated. The results show that the column performance is strongly dependent on agitation speed but only slightly dependent on phase velocities. An empirical equation for prediction of overall continuous phase Sherwood number is proposed based on Reynolds number and dispersed phase holdup for each mass transfer direction. Good agreement between prediction and experiments is found for all operating conditions.

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