Effective interfacial area and liquid-side mass transfer coefficients in a rotating bed equipped with baffles

• Interfacial area, kLa and kL in an RPB with baffles was examined.
• Adding baffles enhanced interfacial area but reduced kL.
• The interfacial area and kLa were higher in wire-mesh bed than in blade bed.

This study examines the mass transfer characteristics of a rotating bed that is equipped with static baffles. The volumetric liquid-side mass transfer coefficient (kLakLa) and the effective gas–liquid interfacial area were determined using a deoxygenation system and a chemisorption of CO2 in NaOH solution, respectively; the local liquid-side mass transfer coefficient (kLkL) was thus calculated. The effects of liquid flow rate, rotational speed, baffles and type of packing on these mass transfer parameters were investigated. Experimental results show that the bed with baffles had a higher interfacial area and lower kLkL than that without baffles. Adding baffles to the bed did not significantly affect the kLakLa values. Additionally, the packing with a larger specific interfacial area yielded higher values of kLakLa mainly because the effective interfacial area was higher.