Absorption and Stripping

Some important definitions

In distillation, heat drives the separation of the more volatile from the
less volatile component; this unit op is always counter-current.
In stripping/absorption, separation is induced by addition of a third
component; these unit ops can be either counter-current or co-current.
stripping: a volatile component of a liquid stream vaporizes into a
carrier gas stream

absorption: a soluble component of a gas stream dissolves in an

extracting liquid stream
- physical absorption: the desired component is soluble in the
-

extracting liquid
chemical absorption: the desired component reacts with the
extracting liquid

irreversible chemical absorption: generates product/waste

reversible chemical absorption: solvent is recycled by stripping

Stripping and absorption are often used together.

Ex.: Integrated system for removing CO2 from syn gas

solvent cooler

H2, CO

H2NCH2CH2OH
(MEA)

N2 + CO2

MEA + CO2

heat
exchanger

stripper

absorber

hot feed gas

H2, CO, CO2
syn gas

MEA + CO2

N2

Gases in at the bottom.

Liquids in at the top.
(Why?)

MEA

Key simplifying assumptions

1. stripping gas/carrier gas is insoluble in solvent
2. solvent is non-volatile
- therefore all streams are either pure or binary
3. columns are isothermal and isobaric
4. heat of absorption is negligible
- therefore energy balance is automatically satisfied

Degrees of freedom analysis:

D.o.F. = C P + 2 = 3
2 + 2 = 3
(A,B,C)
(V,L)
When T, P are fixed (assumption 3), can specify only one more
variable: xB or yB

Labeling streams
Vn
yn

xn, yn:
Vn:
Ln:

Ln
xn

H
E
T

HETP

nth stage

Vn+1
yn+1

Packed columns are used more often than tray (plate)

columns in absorption/stripping, because of low mass
transfer efficiencies.

Ln-1
xn-1

HETP height (of packing) equivalent to a theoretical

plate.

Fractional stages are possible with packed columns.

mole fractions of solute A at equilibrium leaving the nth stage

total gas flow rate = (moles solute A + moles carrier gas B) / time
total liquid flow rate = (moles solute A + moles solvent C) / time

Since A is transferred in one direction only (liq gas, or gas

are not constant. Therefore CMO is not valid.

liq), V and L

Using mole ratios

what is constant?

vapor mole ratio:

G carrier gas flow rate, moles B/time

since B is presumed insoluble, Gn = Gn+1 = G
S solvent flow rate, moles C/time
since C is presumed non-volatile, Sn = Sn-1 = S

yA
moles A in gas stream y A
YA =
=
=
moles B in gas stream y B 1- y A
moles A moles B moles A
YAG =

=
in gas stream
moles B
time
time

liquid mole ratio:

XA =

x
moles A in liquid stream xA
=
= A
moles C in liquid stream xB 1- xA

X AS =

moles A moles C moles A

=
in liquid stream
moles C
time
time

McCabe-Thiele analysis of stripping

feed
S, X0

G, Y1
stage 1

CMB:

GYj+1 + SX0 = GY1 + SXj

operating line equation:

Yj+1 = (S/G)Xj + [Y1 (S/G)X0]
slope = S/G

stage j

Yint = [Y1 (S/G)X0]

analogous to operating line for stripping section

of distillation column

G, Yj+1

S, Xj

usually specified: X0, YN+1, S/G, XN

stage N
stripping gas
G, YN+1

S, XN

fast plotting of operating line:

the point (XN, YN+1) lies on the operating line
calculate Y1 from CMB
the point (X0, Y1) also lies on the operating line

Ex.: Analysis of counter-current stripper

Given X0, XN, YN+1 and S/G, find N.

1. Plot VLE data as mole ratios

(unless x0 < 0.05)
Note: y = x line has no use here.

X0

2. Plot (XN, YN+1) and (X0, Y1)

and draw operating line.
It will be below the VLE line.
3. Step off stages (use
Murphree efficiencies if
available).

2
3

(X0,Y1)

N=3

(XN,YN+1)
To find minimum stripping gas flow rate (Gmin):
1. Plot X0 on VLE line (watch for earlier pinch point, if VLE is curved).
2. Calculate Gmin = S / (S/G)max
Rule-of-thumb:
(S/G)opt 0.7 (S/G)max

Estimating fractional stages

VLE
op. line
(X4, Y4)

X4

(X , Y )
3 4

XN

X3

XN

XN - X3
fractional stage
=
requirement
X 4 - X3

McCabe-Thiele analysis of absorber

Solvent
S, X0

G, Y1
stage 1

G, Yk

CMB:

GYN+1 + SXk-1 = GYk + SXN

operating line equation:

Yk = (S/G)Xk-1 + [YN+1 (S/G)XN]

S, Xk-1

slope = S/G

Yint = [YN+1 (S/G)XN]

analogous to operating line for rectifying section

of distillation column

stage k

usually specified: X0, YN+1, S/G, Y1

stage N
feed
G, YN+1

S, XN

fast plotting of operating line:

the point (X0, Y1) lies on the operating line
calculate XN from CMB
the point (XN, YN+1) lies on the operating line

Ex.: Analysis of counter-current absorber

Given X0, Y1, YN+1 and S/G, find N.
1. Convert VLE data to mole
ratios (unless x0 < 0.05)
Note: y = x line has no use here.

(XN,YN+1)

2. Plot (X0, Y1) and (XN, YN+1) and

draw operating line.
It will be above the VLE line
(because mass is transferred in
opposite direction, gas liq).
3. Step off stages (use
Murphree efficiencies if
available).

(X0,Y1)

YN+1

2
N=3

Find minimum extracting solvent flow rate (Smin) for given G:

1. Plot YN+1 on VLE line (watch for earlier pinch point, if VLE is curved).
2. Calculate Smin = G (S/G)min
Rule-of-thumb:
(S/G)opt 1.4 (S/G)min

Multiple non-interacting solutes

Multiple soluble components (A, D, E) in solvent C, to be stripped using gas B,
OR

Multiple components (A, D, E) in carrier gas B, to be absorbed using solvent C.

If streams are dilute and components do not interact with each other, assume VLE for
each component is independent.

Treat each as a single-component problem, and solve sequentially.

For dilute streams,

Yi = yi / (1 - yi) yi
Xi = xi / (1 - xi) xi
S/G L/V

Ex.: 2-component absorber

Specify yA,N+1, yD,N+1, xA,0, xD,0
Specify L/V and yA,1. Find N and yD,1
(xD,N,yD,N+1)

xA,0
xD,0

yA,1
yD,1

Separation of A requires N = 3.
1

(xA,N,yA,N+1)

N
yA,N+1
yD,N+1

xA,N
xD,N

(xA,0,yA,1)
(xD,0,yD,1)

3
3

Separation of D must also

use N = 3 and same L/V.
Trial-and-error: guess yD,1

x
Probably a good idea to use a different graph for each component

Irreversible absorption
Add reagent R to solvent. R reacts essentially irreversibly with
solute A to form non-volatile products
R + A(g) RA(l)
e.g., NaOH + H2S(g) Na2S + H2O
Equilibrium lies far to the right:
Equation of the VLE line:

xA 0

yA = 0

and

yA 0

Ex. Irreversible absorption

Specify yN+1, x0, L/V.
Required: xN = y1 = 0
C+R
x0 = 0

B
y1 = 0

Only one theoretical

equilibrium stage required

yN+1

N
A+B
yN+1

C + RA
xN = 0

(x0,y1)

(x1,y1)
VLE

x (A + RA)

Ex.: Irreversible absorption with low efficiency

Specify yN+1, x0, L/V, y1 0

C+R
x0 = 0

B
y1 0

More than one actual

equilibrium stage required

yN+1

N
A+B
yN+1

A + RA
xN = 0

3
2
(x0,y1) 1

EMV = 0.25

VLE
x (A + RA)

Co-current cascade
can use higher vapor velocity to increase mass transfer rate
can use smaller diameter column without risk of flooding
generally used for irreversible absorption
Specify y0, x0 = 0, xN, yN = 0
V, y0

L, x0

(x0,y0)

Only one theoretical

equilibrium stage required, if
the reaction is irreversible
and mass transfer is fast

V, yj

L, xj

Vy 0 + Lx0 = Vy j + Lx j
y=-

V, yN

L, xN

L
L
x + y 0 + x0
V
V

(x1,y1) VLE

x (A + RA)

VLE for dilute streams

When streams are dilute, VLE data can
be approximated by a straight line.

y = mx

Obtain the slope, m, from Henrys Law:

PB = HB xB

where yB = PB/Ptotal

PB is the partial pressure of B, and HB is the Henrys Law constant.

Note: HB = HB(T), like an equilibrium constant.

Analytical solution, when both VLE and op. line are straight
change in vapor composition between
adjacent stages:

(x2,y3)
(y)2

(x1,y2)

(x2,y2)
(y)1 = y2 - y1

(x0,y1)

(x1,y1)

( Dy )

= y j +1 - y j

CMB:

L
L
y j +1 = x j + y1 - x0
V
V

VLE:

y j = mx j

general case: L/V m, then (y)j (y)j+1

special case:

if L/V = m, then (y)j = y.

y1 + y2 + y3 + = yN+1 y1 = Ny
OR

N=

x0 - xN

( V)

xN - L

-1

y N+1

Kremser equation: L/V m

use VLE:

( Dy )
( )
Dy

( )
Dy

( )

- Dy
j +1

y j = mx j

L
yj

L L
L
= - m + y1 - x0 =
-1 y + y - x
V mV j 1 V 0
V
m

L
=
1
y
+
y
mV j +1 1 V x0
j +1

=
- 1 y j +1 - y j =
- 1 Dy
mV
mV

( )
Dy

L
=
mV Dy
j +1

( )

( )

( )

= A Dy

where A = L/mV absorption factor

( )(

) ( )

1- AN
y N+1 - y1 = Dy 1 + Dy 2 + Dy 3 + Dy 4 + ... = Dy 1 1+ A + A + A + ... = Dy 1
1- A
Kremser equation:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

y N+1 - y1

( Dy )

y N+1 - y N

( )

A Dy

1- AN
=
1- A

y N+1 - y1 A - AN+1
=
y1 - y 0
1- A

where y0 = mx0

Other forms of Kremser equation

For gas phase compositions
(absorber columns):

For liquid phase compositions

(stripper columns):

y N+1 - y1 A - AN+1
=
y1 - y 0
1- A

xN - xN+1
1- S
=
x0 - xN+1 1- S (N+1)
where
and

S = mV/L stripping factor,

xN+1 = yN+1/m

solve for N:

y - y0
-1
ln 1- A-1 N+1
+
A

y
y

1
0
N=
ln A

N=

ln 1- S -1

x -x
-1
0
N+1

+ S

xN - x N+1
lnS

include Murphree vapor efficiency:

y N+1 - y 0
-1
-1
ln 1- A
+A
y
y
1

0
N=-
ln 1+ EMV A-1 - 1

More forms shown in Wankat, chapter 12.4

Counter-current column sizing

Height:
1. measure HETP
2. measure EMV
3. obtain N
Diameter:
1. key parameter is V, total gas flow rate (not constant)
2. Vj is largest at the top of a stripper column, or at the
bottom of an absorber column
3. calculate D using same procedure as distillation column