In this study, the oxygen transfer rate (OTR), bubble size distribution, interfacial area per unit volume and liquid film mass transfer coefficient have all been measured in a 0.39 m diameter pilot-scale bubble column operated at industrially relevant superficial velocities between 0.14 and 0.28 m s(-1) for which few data exist in the literature. The measured OTR ranged from 6.5 to 8.8 kg m(-3) h(-1), with values generally increasing with superficial velocity. The mean bubble size in the column was 3-5 mm, giving an interfacial area per unit volume for mass transfer of some 380-570 m(2) m(-3). Experimental data were used to validate a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based model of the bubble column; it was found that this model could predict the experimentally measured OTR within 20% across the range of superficial velocities examined. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.