Method and apparatus for optimizing and controlling gas-liquid phase chemical reactions

Claim 1

A method for bringing a reactant gas and a reactant liquid into interfacial contact under conditions conducive to controlled chemical reaction between the reactant gas and the reactant liquid, utilizing apparatus having an elongate tube with first and second ends, with a wall, and with a porous section for the sparging of gas therethrough to the interior of the tube, comprising the steps of introducing a stream of liquid including said reactant liquid to the first end of the porous section of the cylindrical tube tangential to the interior surface of said tube; controlling the flow of said liquid in a spiral pattern around and along said inner surface of said tube from said first end to the second end so as to impose sufficient centrifugal acceleration upon said liquid to confine said liquid to an annular film of liquid spiraling around said wall of said tube and to prevent said liquid from entering a liquid-free zone extending longitudinally through the central portion of said tube surrounded by said liquid; mixing said reactant gas with an inert gas in a predetermined proportion to form a reactant gas mixture; and sparging said reactant gas mixture through the wall of said porous section of said tube and into said liquid spiraling through said tube, thereby forming a two phase gas-liquid froth including a multiplicity of bubbles of said reactant gas mixture in interfacial contact with said liquid, said froth confined to an annulus around said liquid-free zone and flowing in a spiral pattern around and along said inner surface of said porous section of said tube around said liquid-free zone.

Claim 2

A method for bringing a reactant gas and a reactant liquid into interfacial contact under conditions conducive to controlled chemical reaction between the reactant gas and the reactant liquid, utilizing apparatus having an elongate tube with first and second ends, with a wall, and with a porous section for the sparging of gas therethrough to the interior of the tube, comprising the steps of introducing a stream of liquid including said reactant liquid to the first end of the porous section of the cylindrical tube tangential to the interior surface of said tube; controlling the flow of said liquid in a spiral pattern around and along said inner surface of said tube from said first end to the second end so as to impose sufficient centrifugal acceleration upon said liquid to confine said liquid to an annular film of liquid spiraling around said wall of said tube and to prevent said liquid from entering a liquid-free zone extending longitudinally through the central portion of said tube surrounded by said liquid; mixing said reactant gas with an inert gas in a predetermined proportion to form a reactant gas mixture; and sparging said reactant gas mixture through the wall of said porous section of said tube and into said liquid spiraling through said tube, thereby forming a two phase gas-liquid froth including a multiplicity of bubbles of said reactant gas mixture in interfacial contact with said liquid, said froth confined to an annulus around said liquid-free zone and flowing in a spiral pattern around and along said inner surface of said porous section of said tube around said liquid-free zone.