Oxygen mass transfer in bubble column bioreactor

Abstract

In the present study volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient kL a has been determined for biodegradation of phenol in a bubble column bioreactor. Experimental studies have been carried out at different i) feed concentrations of phenol, ii) air flow rates and iii) feed flow rates. Dynamic method has been used to determine the oxygen mass transfer coefficient. The mass transfer coefficient for oxygen obtained is in the range of 0.00513 – 0.01793 s-1. kL a was found to increase with increase in air flow rates and decrease with increase in feed concentration of phenol. The values obtained in this work are compared with the values available in literature. A mathematical correlation is derived for kL a in terms of dimensionless numbers.