Influence of mixing intensity on the mass transfer coefficient across liquid-liquid interfaces

The influence of mixing intensity on the liquid-liquid mass transfer have been investigated using a binary system (water/n-butanol) in a modified stirred cell type contactor which overcomes the shortcomings associated with the previous contactors. It is observed that the mass transfer coefficient is affected by the degree of mixing intensity in both phases. The dependence of the aqueous and organic mass transfer coefficients on the mixing rate is about the same when both phases are agitated at the same speed and these coefficients become asymptotic values for the coefficients obtained at non identical agitation rate in both phases.