Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation

The present study investigates methods to enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturated water. Using a two-part experimental setup, water is first supersaturated using air, followed by an evaluation of the influence of various operating parameters on the volumetric liq...

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Main Authors: W. Ludwig Kuhn, Jean-Yves Hihn, Bjørn Winther Solemslie, Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Ultrasonics Sonochemistry
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417725001683
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author W. Ludwig Kuhn
Jean-Yves Hihn
Bjørn Winther Solemslie
Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug
author_facet W. Ludwig Kuhn
Jean-Yves Hihn
Bjørn Winther Solemslie
Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug
author_sort W. Ludwig Kuhn
collection DOAJ
description The present study investigates methods to enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturated water. Using a two-part experimental setup, water is first supersaturated using air, followed by an evaluation of the influence of various operating parameters on the volumetric liquid–gas mass transfer coefficient, kLa, in a liquid batch reactor. The dependence of this coefficient on sonication parameters is significant because of high partial pressure gradients with TDG supersaturation. The tested methods to enhance degassing are: ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and agitation through flow circulation. The influence of the acoustic frequency and power, the gas diffuser porosity and flow rate, and the flow direction and velocity within the reactor were the parameters investigated for the respective method. In addition, a combination of the different methods was conducted to evaluate promoting effects on the liquid–gas mass transfer. Applying high-power ultrasound resulted in the largest mass transfer enhancement overall, even though aeration and liquid agitation increase the mass transfer when compared to natural degassing. Only a combination of ultrasound and liquid agitation through countercurrent flow leads to a small further enhancement in the mass transfer. Combining aeration by gas bubbling and ultrasound hampers the sonication process, but yields higher kLa values compared to aeration alone. The results indicate that high-power ultrasound, in combination with selected parameters, presents a powerful approach for efficient degassing of TDG supersaturated water. In addition, practical insights for applications within other fields are provided.
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spelling doaj-art-fa251454e47945bb8b4ce6e1085622772025-08-20T02:06:27ZengElsevierUltrasonics Sonochemistry1350-41772025-08-0111910738910.1016/j.ultsonch.2025.107389Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitationW. Ludwig Kuhn0Jean-Yves Hihn1Bjørn Winther Solemslie2Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug3Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Water and Biodiversity, Postboks 5685 Torgarden, Trondheim 7485 Trøndelag, NorwayUniversit́e Marie et Louis Pasteur, CNRS UMR 6213 UTINAM, 30 avenue de l’Observatoire, Besançon 25010 Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Kolbjørn Hejes vei 1B, Trondheim 7012 Trøndelag, Norway; Corresponding authors.Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Water and Biodiversity, Postboks 5685 Torgarden, Trondheim 7485 Trøndelag, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Kolbjørn Hejes vei 1B, Trondheim 7012 Trøndelag, NorwayNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Kolbjørn Hejes vei 1B, Trondheim 7012 Trøndelag, Norway; Corresponding authors.The present study investigates methods to enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturated water. Using a two-part experimental setup, water is first supersaturated using air, followed by an evaluation of the influence of various operating parameters on the volumetric liquid–gas mass transfer coefficient, kLa, in a liquid batch reactor. The dependence of this coefficient on sonication parameters is significant because of high partial pressure gradients with TDG supersaturation. The tested methods to enhance degassing are: ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and agitation through flow circulation. The influence of the acoustic frequency and power, the gas diffuser porosity and flow rate, and the flow direction and velocity within the reactor were the parameters investigated for the respective method. In addition, a combination of the different methods was conducted to evaluate promoting effects on the liquid–gas mass transfer. Applying high-power ultrasound resulted in the largest mass transfer enhancement overall, even though aeration and liquid agitation increase the mass transfer when compared to natural degassing. Only a combination of ultrasound and liquid agitation through countercurrent flow leads to a small further enhancement in the mass transfer. Combining aeration by gas bubbling and ultrasound hampers the sonication process, but yields higher kLa values compared to aeration alone. The results indicate that high-power ultrasound, in combination with selected parameters, presents a powerful approach for efficient degassing of TDG supersaturated water. In addition, practical insights for applications within other fields are provided.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417725001683Liquid-gas mass transferTDG supersaturationUltrasonic degassingMass transfer enhancement
spellingShingle W. Ludwig Kuhn
Jean-Yves Hihn
Bjørn Winther Solemslie
Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug
Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry
Liquid-gas mass transfer
TDG supersaturation
Ultrasonic degassing
Mass transfer enhancement
title Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation
title_full Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation
title_fullStr Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation
title_full_unstemmed Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation
title_short Comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid–gas mass transfer in a batch reactor: Ultrasonic degassing, aeration by gas bubbling, and liquid agitation
title_sort comparing and combining methods that enhance liquid gas mass transfer in a batch reactor ultrasonic degassing aeration by gas bubbling and liquid agitation
topic Liquid-gas mass transfer
TDG supersaturation
Ultrasonic degassing
Mass transfer enhancement
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417725001683
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