Drag reduction in turbulent flow may be significantly reduced by adding tiny quantities of fiber, polymer, and surfactant particles to the liquid. Different drag-reduction agents have proven to be effective in enhancing the flowability of the liquid when added. This study investigated the potential of decreasing the drag, turbulent flow, and pressure drop in horizontal pipe flow by using a mixture of modified xanthan gums (XGs). Xanthan gums are an environmentally friendly natural polymer complex. They can be extracted from xanthan gum plants and utilized to formulate different concentrations of complexes. The flowability of the xanthan gum was experimentally investigated in a 1-m-long pipe by using addition concentrations of 300 to 950 ppm, an inner diameter of 0.254 inches, and four different flow rates. The results revealed that the pressure drop was reduced considerably with an increase in the concentration of the additives. The mixture (xanthan gums plus water) resulted a favorable reduction in the pressure, which reached 65% at a concentration of 950 ppm. The results of the computational fluid dynamic simulation using the COMSOL simulator showed a change in the fluid velocity profiles, which became more parabolic. This occurred because of an increase in the mean fluid velocity due to the addition of the drag-reducing polymers.

Spouted bed reactors (SBRs) are highly valued for their effectiveness in chemical and biochemical processes due to their mixing and heat transfer capabilities. Understanding the heat transfer mechanisms in these reactors is necessary. This research delves into the heat transfer behavior of SBRs, which plays a role in enhancing their performance under operational conditions. The study conducted experiments to measure the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) at varying gas velocities (ranging from 0.32 to 0.74 m/s) at radial positions (r/R = 0, ±0.28, ±0.56, and ±0.85) and axial levels (H/D = 0.8, 2.1, and 3.5) within the spouted bed (SB) column using a technique, for the assessment of local heat transfer coefficients (LHTCs). The results we obtained revealed the velocity of the gas, its radial position in the reactor, and its axial height. For instance, higher gas speeds led to heat transfer efficiency and variations in radial positions highlighted how the reactor’s shape influences heat transfer dynamics. It’s worth noting that increasing the gas speed from the lowest to the level tested resulted in a 25% increase in heat transfer coefficients. These discoveries provide insights for improving the design and performance of SBRs with ranging applications in industries that rely on effective heat transfer processes.

To improve the design and scale-up processes of bubble column reactors (BCRs), it is necessary to characterize the hydrodynamics by means of flow regime behavior. This study examines the impact of industrial heat exchangers and superficial gas velocities on flow regimes, pressure drop, and gas holdup in BC and SBC. A simulated Fischer–Tropsch bubble column is constructed. The experimental study utilized a Perspex column with a diameter of 0.14 m. Moreover, 18 copper tubes with a 0.16 m diameter are fitted into the bubble column. The selection of tubes in SBC was carried out in accordance with TEMA recommendations to ensure optimal heat dissipation. These tubes were made to resemble the industrial Fischer–Tropsch reactor by covering 25% of the bubble column’s cross-sectional area. In order to enhance the measurement and comprehension of the hydrodynamics within the reactor, this study employs a method measured the total gas hold-up and detected pressure fluctuations using three differential pressure transducers (Keller type PA 21Y/4). The column was equipped with a perforated plate air distributor, and glass beads were used as the solid phase. The gas distributor is constructed of porous polyethylene with pore sizes of 0.5 mm and plate thicknesses of 3 mm. To comprehend and assess the impact of tube configuration on the pressure drop; gas holdup; and regime transition velocities, the experimental data were recorded across a broad range of superficial gas velocities (i.e., 0.036–0.27 m/s). The findings suggest that higher superficial gas velocities result in amplified pressure fluctuations, with a recorded increase of 0.108 to 0.15 bar in pressure drop at a gas velocity of 0.27 m/s in the air-water system. Equipping the bubble/slurry bubble column with an industrial heat exchanger to the bubble/slurry bubble column resulted in a modest increase in pressure drop of around 0.042 bar, which disrupted the uniform flow and delayed regime transitions. Furthermore, the inclusion of solids leads to a 10% decrease in gas holdup, while the heat exchanger only slightly improves it by 5%. Drift flux analysis is a helpful tool for determining transition points. In the case of U-shaped heat exchanger tubes, the transition velocities can be altered by 1.7 m/s in BC. The results of this investigation will offer an exhaustive understanding of fluid dynamics as well as guidance in the design of reactors for extremely exothermic processes.

This study examines the impact of equipping a real heat exchanger in a slurry bubble column SBC on instantaneous and local heat transfer coefficients IHTC and LHTC, as well as the overall heat transfer coefficient U, employing advanced heat transfer techniques. The experiments were conducted in a 0.15 m inner diameter Plexiglas SBC with varying gas flowrates Ug (0.14–0.35) m/s at several radial sites along the column’s diameter (±0.18, ±0.46, and ± 0.74) and three axial locations (H/D = 2, 3 and 4). To simulate the industrial Fischer–Tropsch bubble column reactor FT-BCR, a real heat exchanger consisting of 18 copper tubes, each with a diameter of 0.16 m, were vertically installed, occupying 25% of the column cross-sectional. Glass beads with an average size of 150 μm were used loading up to 40% volume to represent the solid phase. The results demonstrated that both, LIHTC and U, showed significant decreases with increasing gas flow rates at all radial and axial positions. Moreover, the LIHTC near the wall notably decreased compared to the central zone by about 82% at the radial location and about 74% at the axial location. The obtained results and data contribute to understanding the impact of vertical tubes on heat transfer in a slurry bubble column reactor SBCR. Furthermore, the data obtained can validate reactor models, computational fluid dynamics CFD programs, and simulations, thereby improving the design and scale-up of these reactors.

Metals’ potential hazards have drawn greater attention to the influence of metal pollution on water, making it a crucial subject of study in recent environmental research. This research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that aim to protect the world by addressing environmental concerns. As a consequence, understanding the impact of metal pollution on water is an essential aspect of the SDGs’ efforts to improve environmental preservation. This study provides insight into the removal of zinc ions from industrial wastewater using emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technology. A study was conducted to investigate the use of ELM technology for removing zinc ions from industrial wastewater. Previous studies have shown that ELM can easily remove metals in their ionic form, but the presence of other organic or inorganic compounds like sulfates, phosphates, and carbonates in industrial wastewater increases their solubility and complexity of the removal. To develop the liquid membrane, a surfactant called Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), an extractant called bis-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), hydrogen chloride as a reagent, and kerosene as a diluent were used. The study investigated the impact of surfactant concentration, homogenizer speed, extractant concentration, and external phase pH on zinc ion removal using a Box-Behnken design based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results showed that surfactant concentration and pH had the greatest impact on removal efficiency, while homogenizer speed and surfactant extractant had a lower impact on zinc removal. The investigation adjusted numerous parameters to achieve a zinc recovery rate of more than 93% from the bioleaching solution. The most beneficial conditions were a stirring speed of 250 rpm for 10 min, 4.75% v/v Span 80, a homogenizer speed of 11 212 rpm for 8 min, a feed phase pH of 5 or 4.9, and 6% v/v D2EHPA in kerosene.