A comparison of oxygen mass transfer into sodium sulphite solution and a biological system

To explain previously reported discrepancies between oxygen uptake rates in biological systems and the sodium sulphite test system a comparison was made between oxygen mass transfer into a sodium sulphite solution catalysed by copper(II) ions, and into a biological system, the bacterium E. coli in a mineral medium. A stirred transfer cell, with a relatively low rate of physical mass transfer per unit area, and a bubble column, with a high physical mass transfer rate per unit area, were used to make this comparison; in both cases, the areas of gas/liquid contact could be determined. In the transfer cell the gas/liquid mass transfer coefficient for the biological system was only 10–25% of that for the sulphite oxidation system (for which the absorption rate was increased by chemical reaction). In the bubble column mass transfer into both systems was controlled by physical absorption and the mean mass transfer coefficients were similar for both systems. However, the mass transfer coefficient for the biological system increased with E. coli concentration, probably due to physical effects of the small particles.