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Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

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Average bubble diameter, mm<br />

8<br />

7<br />

6<br />

5<br />

4<br />

3<br />

2<br />

1<br />

0<br />

Water<br />

1 g/L ethanol<br />

3 g/L ethanol<br />

8 g/L ethanol<br />

0 200 400 600 800<br />

Impeller speed, rpm<br />

Figure 4-4. <strong>Experimental</strong>ly measured bubble diameters in the well-mixed bioreactor<br />

(error bars are st<strong>and</strong>ard deviations).<br />

Correlation <strong>of</strong> Oxygen Mass Transfer Coefficient<br />

It was observed in this study that the gas holdup did not vary when the impeller<br />

speeds were less than 135 rpm. Therefore, the value <strong>of</strong> k L a was assumed to remain<br />

constant below 135 rpm. Commercial s<strong>of</strong>tware, Tablecurve (J<strong>and</strong>el Scientific, San<br />

Rafael, California), was used to help formulate an empirical model for the overall mass<br />

transfer coefficients. The lines in Figure 4-3 represent the following best-fit, empirical<br />

equation for ethanol concentrations over the range <strong>of</strong> 0 to 8 g/L <strong>and</strong> impeller speeds<br />

over the range <strong>of</strong> 135 to 600 rpm:<br />

k L a (s -1 ) = 0.002 for N ≤ 135 rpm, 0≤ [E] ≤ 8 g/L (4-6)<br />

53

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