HYDRODYNAMICS OF BUBBLE COLUMNS WITH TWO IMMISCIBLE LIQUID PHASES

An experimental study of hydrodynamic parameters of bubble columns with the presence of two immiscible liquid phases, water and kerosene, was performed. The solid used consisted of glass beads with a narrow size distribution. The analysis was based on the determination of global gas holdups and phases distribution along the length of the column in the semibatch mode of operation. The results show thai the presence of two immiscible liquid phases significantly reduces the gas holdup in the bubble column as compared to the results obtained with pure aqueous and organic liquid phases. The distribution of solid phase in a slurry bubble column is drastically affected by the presence of immiscible liquid phases, and exhibits a qualitatively different behavior when compared lo systems with one liquid phase. The addition of small amounts of aqueous phase to a slurry bubble column in which the liquid phase is kerosene results in the sedimentation of the solid. As the amount of aqueous phase added is increased, the solid fluidizes yielding almost flat concentration profiles.