This work was aimed at evaluating the performance of bubble breakage and coalescence models in bubble column simulations. A total of five different models were considered (two for breakage and three for coalescence). These selected models had their parameters estimated using experimental data of bubble size distributions for the air-water system in an isothermal bubble column. Bubble sizes were measured with a photographic technique for two gas superficial velocities at three bubbling heights. Model parameters were estimated using the maximum likelihood technique applied to a one dimensional population balance model, which was solved by the method of classes. The results allowed to conclude, within the experimental uncertainty, that it was necessary to adjust the parameters of some of the models according to the operational conditions. For other models, the same parameter values could be used to represent different operational conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.