Experimentation and correlation development of mass transfer in a mimicked Fischer–Tropsch slurry bubble column reactor

Gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient “ k_La ” for CH_4 , CO_2 , and Ar were experimentally measured at different conditions in a mimicked Fischer–Tropsch (FT) slurry bubble column reactor by using a non-invasive gaseous tracer technique and the axial dispersion model. Results validate the square root relation, between k_La and diffusivity “ D_g ”, that can be used to predict k_La for different species with k_La values available in the literature. Additionally, Higbie’s penetration theory was adopted along with bubble dynamics parameters estimation to develop a correlation for predicting k_La at wide range of conditions. Current results were used to tune and modify the developed correlation. Predictions of the modified correlation were found to be in line with the findings of previous studies and hence can used to predict k_La for different gases including the syngas (i.e., H_2 and CO ) at conditions close to FT conditions.