Gas Absorption
Gas Absorption
Gas Absorption
By:
Gerelyn R. Barnuevo
Jessica P. Macalintal
Carmi D. Pelera
Rona V. Sale
INTRODUCTION
A. Definition: Gas Absorption
Gas absorption (also known as scrubbing, and
washing) is an operation in which a gas mixture is
contacted with a liquid (the absorbent or solvent) for the
purpose of preferentially dissolving one or more
components of the gas mixture and to provide a solution
of them in the liquid. Therefore, there is a mass
transfer of the component of the gas from the gas
phase to the liquid phase.
The process of gas absorption thus involves: the diffusion of solute from the
gas phase through a stagnant or non-diffusing liquid
B. Types Of Absorption
The system involves three components, the solute (A), the solvent (B) and the
inert gas (I). If we apply the Gibb’s Phase Rule,
∅=𝐂−𝐏+𝟐
With øas the number of degrees of freedom, C the number of components and P
the number of phases, the degrees of freedom obtained is three. Usually, in the
operation of a gas absorber, the pressure is fixed. This gives two more conditions to be
specified. Thus, to simplify the analysis, the temperature is also fixed at a constant
value. In this case, since the concentration of the liquid is fixed, there will only be one
possible concentration that can be obtained in the gas phase at equilibrium. This
variation in the equilibrium concentration is provided by the solubility data, which is the
basis of determining equilibrium concentration.
A. Gas Solubility
B. Volatility
C. Viscosity
D. Corrosiveness
E. Cost
The solvent should be cheap so that losses will be insignificant and should
be easily available.
𝐏𝐀
𝐲𝐀 =
𝐏𝐓
or
𝐂𝐀
⁄𝐌
𝐀
𝐱𝐀 =
𝐂𝐀
⁄𝐌 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎⁄𝐌
𝐀 𝐁
2. Henry’s Constants
If the mixture is somewhat dilute such that Henry’s Law can be applied,
the equilibrium concentrations can be related in terms of the Henry’s constant,
HA.
𝐇𝐀
𝐲𝐀 = 𝐱 = 𝐦𝐱 𝐀
𝐏𝐓 𝐀
3. Vapor Pressure
If the solution can be considered and ideal solution, Raoult’s Law can be
applied in determining the partial pressure of A from the vapor pressure P Å, thus
𝐏𝐀 𝐏
𝐲𝐀 = = Å 𝐱𝐀
𝐏𝐓 𝐏𝐓
4. Distribution Coefficients
If the other sources mentioned are not available for the system under
consideration and the distribution coefficient, KA is known, the equilibrium
relationship can also be obtained using the equation
𝐲𝐀 = 𝐊 𝐀 𝐱 𝐀
Nomenclature:
V - total molal gas rate
y - mole fractions of solute in V
L - total molal liquid rate
x - mole fraction of solute in L
V’ - solute free molal gas rate
Y - mole of solute / mole of solute free gas
L’ - pure solvent molal rate constant- if no water or solvent evaporation
X - mole of solute / mole of pure solvent
𝐘 𝒚
𝐲= 𝒀=
𝟏+𝐘 𝟏−𝒚
𝐗 𝐱
𝐱= 𝐗=
𝟏+𝐗 𝟏−𝐱
MATERIAL BALANCES
Simplified Form:
𝐕 ′ (𝐲𝟏 − 𝐲𝟐 ) = 𝐋′ (𝐱 𝟏 − 𝐱 𝟐 ) wet basis
𝐕 ′ (𝐘𝟏 − 𝐘𝟐 ) = 𝐋′ (𝐗 𝟏 − 𝐗 𝟐 ) dry basis