TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

363 P. CASAL ST., QUIAPO, MANILA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

EXPERIMENT NO. 3: GAS ABSORPTION

SUBMITTED BY:

SUBMITTED TO:

DECEMBER 4, 2014

EXPERIMENT NO. 2
DRYING
Discussion:
Gas absorption is the unit operation in which one or more soluble components of a gas
mixture are dissolved in a liquid. The gas phase or gas mixture is inert gas while the liquid phase
is immiscible in the gas phase. The liquid will therefore vaporize slightly in gas phase. The
process involves mass transfer of the component of the gas from the gas phase to the liquid
phase. The process involves the transfer of solute fromgas to liquid phase. Where the mass
transfer occur in the opposite direction known asdesorption or stripping. An example of gas
absorption is the removal of ammonia from air by contact with liquid water. Ammonia is very
soluble in water whereas air is only slightly soluble.
Gas absorption operation is widely used in controlling industrial air pollution, andto
separate acidic impurities from mixed gas streams. Packed towers are the mostcommon mass
transfer devices used for both air pollution control and recovery of processgases. Generally, a
packed tower is made up of a piece of pipe set on its end and is filled with inert materials or
packings. The packed tower usually operates in counter- currentflow, whereby the liquid enters
the system via the top, flows down across the packingsand wets the surface of the packings, and
the gas stream mixed with discharge will enterfrom the bottom. When the liquid and gas are in
contact with one another, effluent will betransferred from the gas to the liquid.
In considering the design of equipment to achieve gas absorption, the main requirement
is that the gas should be brought into intimate contact with the liquid, and the effectiveness of the
equipment will largely be determined by the success with which it promotes contact between the
two phases. In absorption, the feed is a gas introduced at the bottom of the column, and the
solvent is fed to the top, as a liquid; the absorbed gas and solvent leave at the bottom, and the
unabsorbed components leave as gas from the top. The essential difference between distillation
and absorption is that in the former the vapour has to be produced in each stage by partial
vaporisation of the liquid which is therefore at its boiling point, whereas in absorption the liquid is
well below its boiling point.
Materials:

Gas Absorption Column

Carbon Dioxide Cylinder
300 mL of 0.1 M NaOH Solution
Fresh Tap Water

Procedure:
1. First, fill the gloves of the absorption analysis equipment to the left of the panel with 0.1
M caustic soda. Wear gloves and goggles while doing this. Adjust the level in the gloves
to the 0 mark on the right tube using drain valve into a flask to do this.

2. Fill the liquid reservoir tank to the three-quarters full with fresh tap water.
3. With gas flow control valve C2 and C3 closed, start the liquid pump and adjust the water
flow through the cloumn to approximately 6 liters per minute on the flow meter F1 by
adjusting flow control valve C1.
4. Start the compressor and adjust the control valve C2 to give air flow to approximately
10% of full scale on flow meter F2.
5. Carefully open the pressure regulating valve on the carbon dioxide cylinder, and adjust
valve to give a C3 on the flow meter F3 approximately one half of the airflow F2. Ensure
the liquid seal at the base of the absorption column is maintained by, if necessary, adjust
of control valve C4.
6. After 15 mins, or so of steady operation, take samples of gas simultaneously from
sample points S1 and S2. Analyze this consecutively for CO 2 content in these gas
samples.
7. Flash the sample lines by repeated sucking from the line, using the gas piston and
expelling the contents of the cylinder to the atmosphere. Note that the volume of the
cylinder is about 100 mL. Estimate the volume of the tube leading to the device. Then
decide how many times you need to suck and expel.
8. With the absorption glove isolated and vent to the atmosphere closed, fill the cylinder
from the selected line by drawing the piston cut slowly. Note the volume taken into
cylinder V1, which should be approximately 20 mL for this particular experiment. Wait at
least 2 minutes to allow the gas to come to the atmosphere/temperature of the cylinder.
If the concentration of CO 2 in the gas sampled is greater than 8%, it is possible to suck
liquid into the cylinder. This will ruin your experiment and takes time to correct. Stop it at
a particular mark, for example, Y1 = 20 on the coarse scale and read the fine scale.
9. Isolate the cylinder from the column and the absorption glove and vent the cylinder to
atmosphere pressure. Close after 10 seconds.
10. Connect cylinder to absorption glove, the liquid level should not change. If it does not
change, briefly open to atmosphere again.
11. Wait until the level in the indicator is on zero showing that the pressure in the cylinder.
12. Slowly close the piston to empty the cylinder into the absorption glove. Slowly draw the
piston out agin. Note the level in the indicator tube. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until no
significant change in level occurs. Read the indicator tube marking, V, this represent the
volume of the gas sampled.
13. Repeat the experiment for trials 2 and 3.
Experminental Set-Up:

Data and Results:

MW of NaOH = 204.2 g/mol

MW of CO2 = 44 g/mol

Determination of Molarity of NaOH before titration:

Volume (L)
Trial 1
0.0027
Trial 2
0.0024

Mass of NaOH (g)

0.1681
0.1579

After titration:
Blank
Run 1
Run 2
Run 3
Run 4
Run 5

Trial 1
0.4
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.1

Volume (mL)
Trial 2
0.1
0.4
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2

Trial 3
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2

Determination of the moles of NaOH:

Moles of NaOH (mol)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Blank Sample
0.000125417 3.13543E-05
6.2709E-05
1st run
6.27086E-05 0.000125417
3.1354E-05
2nd run
9.40629E-05 6.27086E-05
6.2709E-05
3rd run
3.13543E-05 9.40629E-05
9.4063E-05
4th run
6.27086E-05 6.27086E-05
6.2709E-05
5th run
3.13543E-05 6.27086E-05
6.2709E-05
Determination of the Concentration of carbon dioxide absorbed:
Moles of CO2 (mol)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Blank Sample
6.27086E-05 1.56771E-05
3.13543E-05
1st run
3.13543E-05 6.27086E-05
1.56771E-05
2nd run
4.70314E-05 3.13543E-05
3.13543E-05
3rd run
1.56771E-05 4.70314E-05
4.70314E-05
4th run
3.13543E-05 3.13543E-05
3.13543E-05
5th run
1.56771E-05 3.13543E-05
3.13543E-05

Blank Sample
1st run
2nd run
3rd run
4th run
5th run

Concentration of CO2 absorbed(ppm)

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
68979.441 68979.441 68979.441
68979.441 68979.441 68979.441
68979.441 68979.441 68979.441
68979.441 68979.441 68979.441
68979.441 68979.441 68979.441
68979.441 68979.441 68979.441

Sample Calculations:
Reaction:

CO2 + H 2 O H 2 CO 3
(1)
H 2 CO 3 +2 NaOH Na CO 3+3 H 2 O

(2)

Determination of Molarity of NaOH:

1 mol
m1
= 0.1681 g x
= 8.23 x 104 mol
204.2 g of NaOH
1 mol
m2
= 0.1579 g x
= 7.73 x 104 mol
204.2 g of NaOH
4
mol
M 1 = 8.23 x 10 mol = 0.304893532
L
0.0027 L
4
mol
M 2 = 7.73 x 10
= 0.322192295
L
0.0024 L
M 1+ M 2
0.304893532+ 0.322192295
mol
M average =
=
= 0.313542914
2
L
2
KPH

KPH

Determination of the moles of NaOH:

a. Blank Sample
Trial 1:
mol
1L
n NaOH =0.313542914
x 0.4 ml x
=0.000125417 mol of NaOH
L
1000 ml

Determination of the Concentration of carbon dioxide absorbed:

a. Blank Sample
Trial 1:
nCO
=
1mol H 2 CO3
1mol CO 2
0.000125417 mol of NaOH x
x
=6.27086E-05 mol of CO 2
2 mol NaOH 1 mol H 2 CO2
2

Concentration of carbon dioxide absorbed =

6.27086E-05 mol of CO2 x 44

g 1000 mg
x
mol
1g

1L
0.4 ml x
1000 ml

n CO x MW CO
volume after titration
2

68979.441

mg
L

Analysis and Interpretation:

Moles of CO2
Moles of CO2 (mol) Trial 1

Moles of CO2 (mol) Trial 2

Moles of CO2 (mol) Trial 3

7.00E-05
6.27E-05
6.00E-05

6.27E-05

5.00E-05

4.70E-05

4.70E-05

4.00E-05
3.14E-05
3.00E-05

3.14E-05

2.00E-05
1.57E-05
1.00E-05

1.57E-05

0.00E+00

B lank S a m ple1s t r un

3.14E-05

3.14E-05
1.57E-05

2nd run

3 rd r u n

3.14E-05
1.57E-05

4th r u n

5th r u n

The data and the graph shows that the CO 2 absorbed is in minimal amount. It also
shows that Trials 2 and 3 absorbed more CO 2 than Trial 1.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
The CO2 absorbed by the water is very minimal. This may be due to errors. Getting the
concentration of the CO2 in the column was not accurate because it took some to transport the
sample to the instrumentation room to titrate it, which causes the CO 2 to evaporate. Also, the
compressor also stops constantly when overheated, so it affects the data.
It is recommended that the titration apparatus is near the gas absorber equipment as to
quickly titrate it, which therefore, results to minimal CO 2 losses. It is recommended that future

users of the absorption column ensure that the carbon dioxide analyzer is properly calibrated. It
is also recommended to change or at least repair the compressor.

Questions:
1. Discuss the following:
a. Loading point
b. Flooding point
c. Hydronamics
d. Channeling
2. Differentiate packed columns and tray columns.
3. Dry gas containing 75% air and 25% NH 3 vapor enters the bottom of cylindrical packed
absorption tower that is 2 ft in diameter. Nozzles in the top of the tower distribute water
over packing. A soluttion of NH3 in water is drawn from the bottom of the column, and
scrubbed gas leaves the top. The gas enters 80F and 730 mmHg. The leaving gas
contains 1% NH3.
a. If the entering gas flows through the empty the mepty column at an average
velocity of 1.5 ft/s, how many ft3 of entering gas are treated per hour?
b. How many pounds of ammonia are absorbed per hour?
4. A gas mixture containing 1% acetone and 99% dry air by volume is contacted with pure
water in a plate gas absorber in which 90% of the acetone is recovered. The inlet gas
flow rate is 30 kgmol/hr and the inlet water flow rate is 90 kmol/hr. The absorber
operates at 27C and 1 atm. The equilibrium curve is given by y* = 2.53x
a. What is the concentration of the strong liquor?
b. What is the number of theoretical plates required?
5. A mixture of benzene vapor and flue gas contains 12.7 mole % benzene and is to be
scrubbed continuously in a packed tower operated at tmospheric pressure at 43C. The
tower is to treat 36000 ft3 per hour of entering gas and the exit gas is to contain 1.5 mole
% benzene and will be supplied at the rate of 28 lbmol/hr. the solution of benzene in oil
may be assumed to follow Raoults law and the vapor pressure of pure solvent at 43C
is 0.263 atm. It is agreed that the maximum allowable superficial velocity of the gas is 1
ft/sec. calculate the height of the tower required, assuming that the height of a transfer
unit is 2 ft.
Answers to Questions:
1. Loading point the liquid flow is reduced due to the increased gas flow. The liquid is
held in the void space between packing.
Flooding point the liquid stops flowing altogether nd collects in the top of the column
due to very high gas flow.
Hydronamics the study of liquids in motion.
Channleing the gas or liquid is much greater at some point than at others.
2. The most striking difference between trays and packings is the percent opening of each
phase-contacting device. A tray typically has an opening ranging from 8 to 15% of the
tower cross-section area, while the projected opening of a typical packing design is
usually more thatn 5-% of tower cross-section. The void fraction of a packed column is
even higher, usually more than 90% of the tower volume.