The equilibrium solubilities, C*, and volumetric liquid-side mass transfer coefficients Ikral for gaseous nitrogen and oxygen in liquid cyclohexane were obtained in wide ranges of pressures ( 1 40 bar), temperatures (38(>480 K i and mixing speeds ( 13.3 20 Hz) in gas-inducing {G1R) and surface-aeration (SAR) agitated reactors. The ('* wdues were calculated using a modified Peng Robinson equation of state and the transient physical gas absorption technique was employed to obtain the mass transfer coefficients.
The C* values for both N2 and O2 were found to increase with the solute gas equilibrium partial pressure and temperature. Under the sa,ne operating conditions, 02 appeared to be more soluble in cyclohexane than N2.
The k~a values for the two gases were found to increase strongly with mixing speed and slightly increase with pressure in both reactor types, kra values for both gases appeared to slightly increase with temperature in the SAR while an opposite trend was observed in the GI R. kra wdues for both gases in the GIR were higher than those in the SAR at higher mixing speeds ( 16.6 and 20.0 Hz). It appeared that ktM wdues in the SAR w'ere controlled by the mass transfer coefficient, kr, whereas those in the GIR were controlled by the gas liquid interracial area. o. The effect of gas nature on kra values in both reactors was insignificant. Two empirical correlations to predict kta and gas holdup values fi)r N2 and 02 in liquid cyclohexane in both reactor types with + 30%, accuracy were developed.