EFFECT OF SUSPENDED FIBRES ON MACRO-MIXING AND MICRO-MIXING IN A STIRRED TANK REACTOR

Abstract The effects of suspended fibre on macroscale and microscale mixing in a small stirred tank reactor were studied under batch conditions using the competitive, consecutive azo coupling between 1-naphthol and diazotized sulfanilic acid. The mixing quality was determined from the distribution between the mono and bis substituted reaction products. Nylon (2 and 3 millimeters in length) and fully bleached softwood kraft pulp (FBK) fibre suspensions were examined at volumetric concentrations up to the limit that complete suspension motion could be maintained in the vessel at impellet rotational speeds of 7 and 10s−1. The adsorption of the product dyes on the fibre was found to be proportional or very nearly proportional to their concentrations in the aqueous phase and did not interfere with the assessment of mixing in the suspension. Suspended fibres were found to slightly increase the ‘critical feed time’ of the diazotized sulfanilic acid, corresponding to an increase in the macromixing or bulk blend lime of the vessel. Continued increase in the fibre concentration led to the formation of a well mixed cavern centered on the impeller and the creation of stagnant regions adjacent to the vessel walls. The departure from the Newtonian fibre-free case is due to changes in the flow through and distribution of the energy dissipative regions in the vessel. The most effective location for chemical addition to ensure good microscale mixing remains in the impeller vicinity.