Experimental and numerical results are presented from investigations into the hydrodynamics of a bench scale bubble column reactor. Countercurrent bubble column reactors are most commonly used in water disinfection for effecting mass transfer of ozone to the aqueous phase. In the reactor column used in this study, gas is introduced at the bottom of the column via a spherical diffuser and water is introduced to the top of the column through a manifold packed with glass spheres. Residence time distribution (RTD) studies were conducted for a range of gas flow rates chosen to span the dispersed flow bubble regime. A multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to simulate the flow in the bubble column and to gain insights into the fluid dynamics of countercurrent flow bubble columns. The CFD model accurately predicted trends in mixing. Use of CFD in bubble column design and scale-up thus may yield better designs than those based on empirical relations. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.