Mass transfer studies were carried out in a bubble column using the chemical method. Catalytic oxidation of sodium sulfite was chosen for the studies and the corresponding specific rates of oxidation were obtained using a stirred cell. Laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) was used to measure the instantaneous velocities in the same stirred cell as well as in bubble columns (100 and 150 mm i.d.). An efficient algorithm based on the multiresolution analysis of the velocity-time data using wavelets was used for the isolation of data belonging to the gas and liquid phases. Eddy isolation model was used for the characterization of the eddy motion including the estimation of the energy dissipation rate. Using the knowledge of eddy motion, a methodology was developed for the prediction of true mass transfer coefficient (k(L)) in a stirred cell as well as in bubble columns. The predicted values of k(L) have been compared with the experimental values obtained by the chemical method. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.