An intensified ozonation system in a tank reactor with foam block stirrer: synthetic textile wastewater treatment and mass transfer modeling

Abstract A novel multiphase tank reactor with foam block stirrer, also called rotating foam stirrer reactor (RFSR), was used to intensify ozone mass transfer and oxidation of synthetic textile wastewater processes for the first time. Results show that the RSFR can improve the ozone mass transfer process by adjusting operation conditions and gas hydromechanics. In order to predict the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, a set of correlation was developed within ±15% deviation. Further, based on an Acid Red B (ARB) solution used as simulated synthetic textile wastewater, it was found that the removal efficiency was improved by intensifying ozone mass transfer process, and changing operation conditions can promote the transformation of the ozone oxidation path to an indirect reaction way. Finally, results show that the Fe-Co oxides coated on the foam block stirrer can further intensify the degradation processes in the ARB solution. This study gives a fundamental understanding of the intensification mechanism of the RFSR and shows the promising prospect of an RFSR used in in the wastewater treatment.