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Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

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The results <strong>of</strong> the average bubble diameter are shown in Figure 4-4. At lower impeller<br />

speeds, reducing the speed increased the bubble size. For example, in the distilled<br />

water, the average bubble diameter decreased from 7 to 2 mm with an increase <strong>of</strong><br />

impeller speed from 135 to 300 rpm. At 1 g/L ethanol, bubble size decreased from 6 to<br />

0.8 mm with this same increase <strong>of</strong> impeller speeds. At 135 rpm, the average bubble<br />

diameter decreased from 7 to 6 mm with the addition <strong>of</strong> ethanol. The bubble diameter<br />

decreased from 2 to 0.8 mm at 300 rpm <strong>and</strong> from 1.7 to 0.7 mm at impeller speeds <strong>of</strong><br />

450 <strong>and</strong> 600 rpm, respectively. This indicates that both the addition <strong>of</strong> ethanol <strong>and</strong> the<br />

increase in impeller speed decrease bubble diameters. There was no significant further<br />

decrease in bubble diameter with increase <strong>of</strong> impeller speed beyond about 400 rpm,<br />

which is consistent with the results visually observed using a digital camera. It was also<br />

observed that beyond ethanol concentration <strong>of</strong> 1 g/L there was no further decrease in the<br />

bubble size. The decrease in bubble size by addition <strong>of</strong> ethanol is also due to the<br />

decrease in surface tension. These observations <strong>of</strong> average bubble diameter were similar<br />

to those in the stirred tanks reported by others using electrolytes as a mean <strong>of</strong> enhancing<br />

mass transfer (Lee <strong>and</strong> Meyrick, 1970; Benedek <strong>and</strong> Heideger, 1971; Robinson <strong>and</strong><br />

Wilke, 1974).<br />

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