Effect of surface resistance arising due to surfactant on gas absorption accompanied by a chemical reaction in a foam-bed-reactor

Abstract

On the basis of an idealized foam bed, a model to predict conversion in a foam-bed-reactor contg. surfactant was developed. The model takes into account the effect of surface resistance, arising due to the presence of a surfactant on gas absorption with chem. reaction in a foam matrix. To verify the theory, expts. were carried out in a semibatch foam-bed-reactor for the absorption of air-{CO_2} mixt. in a foam of NaOH soln. contg. finite concns. of different surfactants. The surface resistance offered by the mols. of surfactant at the gas-liq. interface reduces the mass-transfer rates significantly. The proposed model predicts fairly well the exptl. detd. depletion values of NaOH