Gas–Liquid Mass Transfer around a Rising Bubble: Combined Effect of Rheology and Surfactant

The influence of viscosity and surface tension on oxygen transfer was investigated using planar laser-induced fluorescence with inhibition (PLIF-I). The surface tension and the viscosity were modified using Triton X-100 and polyacrylamide, respectively. Changes in the hydrodynamic parameters of millimetric bubbles were identified, and transfer parameters were calculated. The results revealed a decrease in the mass transferred in the presence of a contaminant. For modified viscosity, the decrease in mass transferred was allowed for by current correlations, but the presence of surfactant led to a sharp decrease in the liquid side mass transfer coefficient, which became even lower when polymer was added. An explanation for the gap between classical correlations and experimental values of k_L is discussed, and a hypothesis of the existence of an accumulation of contaminant in the diffusion layer is proposed. This led to the possibility of a decrease in the diffusion coefficient and oxygen saturation concentration in the liquid film, explaining the discrepancy between models and experience. Adapted values of D_O2 and [O₂] * in this layer were estimated. This original study unravels the complexity of mass transfer from an air bubble in a complex medium.