Solid–liquid mass transfer in a gas sparging contactor equipped with a tube of circular fins

The solid–liquid mass transfer rate at a stack of circular fin surfaces in a gas sparging contactor was investigated. A diffusion-controlled dissolution technique of copper in an acidified chromate solution was employed. Variables studied included the number of actively exposed fins ranging from 5 to 20, pertinent physical properties of the solution, and air superficial velocity. Experimental data showed that the rate of the diffusion-controlled mass transfer increases with increasing superficial air velocity and decreases with increasing chromate solution acid concentration. Moreover, at relatively low superficial air velocity, increasing the number of actively exposed fins results into a continuous increase in the mass transfer coefficient. At relatively higher superficial air velocity, however, the mass transfer coefficient decreases in the 5–10 range of actively exposed fins and then reverts to increase in the 15–20 range. An empirical correlation relating the mass transfer j factor to Re_g, Fr, and a dimensionless height defined as the ratio of the height of actively exposed fins to the column equivalent diameter was developed based on the data generated in this study, with ±6.45% average deviation.