The effect of oscillations in the bulk flow on the axial dispersion coefficient in packed beds of spherical particles has been studied using the imperfect pulse tracer method with two probes located within the bed. Three bed sizes with diameters in the range 25-47.3 mm have been used with oscillation frequencies and amplitudes in the range 0-2.4 Hz and 0-3.5 mm, respectively. In the absence of oscillations, the axial dispersion coefficient increases linearly with interstitial velocity. For a given bulk velocity and oscillation frequency, the axial dispersion coefficient-amplitude relationship shows a minimum. Over the ranges of conditions studied, the best reduction (up to 50%) in the axial dispersion coefficient from the non-oscillation base case occurred at the highest frequency studied and when the wall effect was the greatest, i.e. when the column-to-particle size was the smallest. The axial dispersion coefficient was fitted to a mathematical model, which takes into account the diameters of both the column and the packing, the fluid velocity, and the oscillation intensity (frequency and amplitude). The model was adapted from those developed by Goebel et at. (1986) and Mak et al. (1991) so as to need no a priori assumptions about the relationship between oscillation parameters and the axial dispersion coefficient. The model provides near-perfect fits to the experimental data for the higher frequencies studied. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.