Modeling oxygen mass transfer in surfactant solutions considering hydrodynamics and physico-chemical phenomena

The present study offers a predictive correlation for oxygen transfer based on the exhaustive analysis of more than 300 isolated gas bubbles and the examination of interfacial colonization phenomena occurring in the presence of surfactants. The correlation is formulated by accounting for two key aspects: the hydrodynamic influence exerted by surfactants on mass transfer and the physico-chemical hindrance caused by surfactant adsorption. While the correlation holds substantial promise for application in wastewater treatment facilities, it has hitherto been exclusively employed for bubbles with an equivalent diameter (d_b) smaller than 1.5 mm and in systems featuring a singular surfactant species in the liquid phase. With a view to harnessing a model for its integration into wastewater treatment plants, our study endeavors to elucidate the methodology for expanding the applicability of the correlation to bubbles with higher Reynolds numbers (d_b > 1.5 mm). To this end, the study leverages the work of Sardeing et al. (2006) and demonstrates its effectiveness in scenarios typified by the coexistence of multiple surfactant species, which is representative of common constituents in wastewater treatment plant environments.