ABSORPTION

• Gas absorption is a mass transfer operation in which one or more species (solute) is
removed from a gaseous stream by dissolution in a liquid (solvent).

• The insoluble components which are not absorbed is called carrier gas.
EXAMPLE
1. Removal of H2S(solute) from natural gas using a solvent such as aqueous solution of
alkanolamine (solvent).
2. Absorption of oxygen from air in blood while breathing.
3. Absorption of oxygen at water surface from air which keeps aquatic creatures alive.
• Reverse of absorption is called desorption.
 ABSORPTION
Types of absorption
• Depending upon nature and interaction between solute and solvent
molecules absorption is of two types
a) Physical absorption
b)Chemical absorption
PHYSICAL ABSORPTION-
• In physical absorption no significant interaction occurs between
absorbent and absorbed molecules.
• Here driving force is concentration only.
• Temperature and pressure.
 ABSORPTION

Chemical absorption-
• When chemical reaction takes place between absorbent and
adsorbate molecules.
• It enhances the rate of absorption and capacity of absorbent.
• Example- Removal of H2S and co2 gas from natural gas using
alkanolamine.
 SELECTION OF SOLVENT
a) Solubility- The right solvent should absorb the solute which is highly
soluble but not absorb the carrier gas.
b) Selectivity- Sometimes more than one solute may be of similar nature, so
the solvent which is selective for a particular solute is preferred.
Example- CO2 and H2S are both undesirable components in natural gas but
H2S needs to be removed so a solution of hindered alkanolamine is used
which removes H2S preferentially and a little amount of CO2.
c) Reversibility- When chemical reaction occurs between dissolved gas and
the solvent, it should be reversible so that the solvent can be regenerated.
 SELECTION OF SOLVENTS
Example-
 SELECTION OF SOLVENTS

d) Volatility- A good solvent should have low volatility.

e) Viscosity- A good solvent should have low viscosity..
f) Corrosiveness- Low corrosive.
g) Cost- Low cost.
MINIMUM LIQUID RATE
 MINIMUM LIQUID RATE

• A steady state counter flow absorption equipment is considered where we

have to derive mass balance.
• Here G refers to gas and L refers to liquid.
• Overall material balance equation is-
 MINIMUM LIQUID RATE
• Here equilibrium line is convexed upwards as
the operating line is shifting right side.
• As the liquid rate decreases, the operating
line changes from PQ to PQ’ and PQ” with
decreasing slope.
• The line PQ” is tangent to the equilibrium
path and M is the point of tangency.
• Slope of line PQ” = Ls min/Gs
MINIMUM LIQUID RATE
 DESIGN OF PACKED TOWER
• It is a continuous gas-liquid absorption equipment.
• Sizing of packed tower basically includes-
1. Selection of solvent.
2. Selection of packing.
3. Determination of minimum solvent rate i.e. Lmin
4. Determination of column dia.
5. Determination of packed height.
6. Determination of liquid distributor and redistributor .
height of packed
tower
Absorption Equipments
(A) Plate Towers:-
1-Multistage contact.
2-High separation , high capacity.
3-Relatively large diameter.
4-Cooling is done by
providing the plate
with cooling coils.
5- High pressure drop.
6- Easy to be clean.
(B) Packed Columns
1-Differential contact.
2-Used for highly
corrosive materials.
3- Small diameters <70-80 cm
4-Not easy to clean.
5-Packing materials are
made from(ceramics ,
bricks, wood, gravels,
stones , steel ,……)
6-To increase surface area of contact between the two phases in
packed columns, make more than one section which increase
the performance of
the tower.
7- cooling is done by dividing
the column
To many sections
out side the column
(as seen in the opposite
Figure).
(C) Spray Column:-
1- Continuous contact.
2- Low pressure drop.
3- Low efficiency.
4- Low cost(empty).
5- Gas phase controlling.
6- Considered as one stage.