Terminal velocity studies of whole broth single drops in a liquid-liquid system

Terminal velocity data for discrete drops of mycelial culture broth, filtered mycelial culture broth (based upon Penicillium chrysogenum), and water descending through a continuum of tri-n-butyl phosphate as a 30% (v/v) solution in heavy distillate are reported as a function of drop size. The application of high-speed video techniques to the study of drop motion in liquid-liquid systems is described. The terminal velocity data are compared with existing correlations which were developed using pure liquids and using liquids contaminated with trace impurities. The experimental data are also compared with terminal velocity predictions for rigid spheres. Each set of comparisons indicate that the presence of surface-active impurities and the structured nature of drops of untreated fermentation broths are major influences in determining the terminal velocity behavior. © 1992 American Chemical Society.