EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL ADDITIVES ON PERFORMANCE OF AN AIR-WATER CONTACTOR

To investigate the effects of organic solutes on the rate of oxygen transfer in an air-water contactor, small quantities of 1-octanol, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, and heptanoic acid were introduced in the zone of bubble formation. These additives decrease bubble coalescence and improve the rate of oxygen transfer because of the substantial increase in the surface area. With the air disperser used in this work and at a concentration of 1 p.p.m., 1-octanol and 4-methyl-2-pentanol improved the rate of aeration 70% over that in pure water. At a concentration of only 0.5 p.p.m. 1-octanol improved the rate of oxygen transfer 30%. These results were obtained with one air disperser and in solutions of single additive in tap water. They should not be directly applied to other air dispersers or aqueous solutions, especially those containing mixtures of surface active agents. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.