Research on the performance of chelated iron regeneration in a multi‐porous rotating packed bed

Abstract

This paper investigates the regeneration of chelated iron using a rotating packed bed (RPB) system with an air‐assisted oxidation method. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the gas–liquid two‐phase flow field within the RPB, incorporating porous media, were systematically analyzed via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Parametric studies on velocity components and turbulence kinetic energy distributions revealed that a rotational velocity range of 800–1200 rpm optimizes the trade‐off between energy consumption and pressure drop, ensuring both high regeneration efficiency and operational stability. An experimental RPB regeneration platform was established to evaluate the effects of key operational parameters on regeneration performance. Product concentration was quantified using a standardized titration method. Single‐factor experiments demonstrated that regeneration efficiency improves significantly with increased rotational velocity and gas flow rate, whereas higher liquid flow rates exhibit an inhibitory effect. Building upon these findings, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to elucidate the synergistic interactions among these variables. A statistically robust predictive model for regeneration efficiency was developed, providing valuable insights for process optimization.