Process optimization and CFD simulation in external loop airlift reactor and sectionalized external loop airlift for application of wastewater treatment

Abstract The industrial wastewater treatment is carried out in an external loop airlift reactor (EL-ALR) and sectionalized EL-ALR. The airflow rate is optimized in EL-ALR and sectionalized EL-ALR for better degradation of wastewater. The 74% degradation is obtained in sectionalized EL-ALR as compared to EL-ALR for continuous aeration up to 32 h. For higher superficial gas velocity ( U G ) percentage degradation is decreased due to shear stress on microorganisms. The extent of degradation is obtained 77 and 80% for the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and combination of H 2 O 2 and Fenton reagent in an EL-ALR. The computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation validated with experimental results of gas hold-up and liquid circulation velocity compared in EL-ALR sectionalized EL-ALR over a broad range of superficial gas velocity 0.0024 ≤ U G ≤ 0.016 m/s. The comparison of CFD and experimental values of gas hold-up and liquid circulation velocity are in good agreement.