Hydrodynamics and Oxygen Transfer in Bubble Column Reactors Influence of Petroleum Contaminants and Surfactant

The purpose of the present study was investigation of effect petroleum contaminants and surfactants on hydrodynamics and oxygen transfer as important parameters for treatment of crude contaminated wastewaters. Gas hold-up (εg), bubble size distribution and oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa) were evaluated for petroleum contaminants (C13 and C16) in water at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 vol.% over the range of superficial gas velocity (ug) of 1.18-23.52×10-3 m/s in bubble column reactor. A type of anionic surfactant (SDS) was utilized in the experiments for studying of surfactants on wastewater parameters. The bubble size distribution becomes bimodal with increasing of gas velocity and gas hold-up, mass transfer coefficient and Sauter mean diameter is increased. The petroleum contaminants and surfactants lead to delayed regime transition from the homogeneous to heterogeneous by decreased surface tension and by the coalescence inhibition, and also, Sauter mean diameter is decreased in the presence of petroleum contaminants. These changes increased in the presence of surfactants. Also, petroleum contaminants enhanced mass transfer coefficient and gas hold-up, especially at higher superficial gas velocity. Increasing of mass transfer and hold-up were more at higher concentrations of contaminants. Also, presence of surfactants on bubble surfaces, decreases oxygen transfer due to the enhanced mass transfer resistance. Empirical correlations were proposed for evaluating gas hold-up and mass transfer coefficient as a function of superficial gas velocity and interfacial surface tension.