DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF HOMOGENEOUS REACTIONS IN A STIRRED BUBBLE REACTOR - OXIDATION OF SULFITE

A new dynamic model is presented for the behavior of a homogeneous reaction in a stirred bubble reactor. The general case of the model accounts for reaction in both the well-stirred liquid and in the liquid film surrounding each bubble, and shows the relative effects of reaction and mass transfer in the two-phase system. A two-step mechanism is assumed for the reaction in the liquid phase. The results of the mathematical analysis show that with dynamic experimental data it could be possible to evaluate rate constants for both the association and irreversible reaction steps. The theory is applied to experimental data obtained by introducing pulses of oxygen into aqueous sulfite solutions containing catalytic cobalt ions to increase the conversion. Overall rate constants for the combined non-catalytic and catalytic reactions are measured. The overall rate constant for the reaction determined from the dynamic experiments was confirmed by independent steady-state experiments.