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Gas Absorption Mass Balance Experimental Report

Casi Santos

Note
This paper was prepared for CHE 200, taught by Professor

INTRODUCTION

In absorption, a soluble vapor is absorbed from its mixture with an inert gas by means of
a liquid in which the solute gas is more or less soluble (McCabe, 2005). Those species
transferred to a liquid are called solutes. There is no change in the chemical structure of the
species witch is present in the system. The main objective of absorption experiment is to separate
gas mixtures. Nowadays, the oceans have absorbed vast amounts of carbon dioxide which
increases the amount of acids in water. It has reduced the natural alkalinity of oceans water
interfering in the habitat of the corals (Revkin, 2004). Therefore, absorption is fundamental and
efficient for this environmental problem. The process which the solute is separated from the
solvent is called stripping. Normally, absorption is not one hundred percent accurate, even more
when it is due into water stream. Usually, the separation between water and any solute is due by
distillation. The objectives of this experiment are to understand the gas absorption operation, to
know how absorption equipment is designed, and to perform mass balances for an absorber to
determine the amount of CO2 absorbed by the water stream to determine the accuracy of the
CO2 meter. The machine consists of a column with air, CO2 and water flow rate inlet and a
distribution spaces at the bottom. Also, this procedure contains a digital CO2 meter to check the
flow rates. Three run is done to guarantee the accuracy of the experiment. The apparatus consists
of columns showing the amount of gas or liquid inlet on the reader. However, the units used are
not equivalent. It is necessary to convert those units to ones that match to each other. Also, it is
necessary to calibrate the system before the experiment. Gas velocity, temperature of the stream
and pressure are some factors which must be determinate.

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS AND PROCEDURE

EQUIPMENT
-

CO2 Gas cylinder

Packed absorption column
Plate tower

PROCEDURE
-

Make sure that the apparatus is calibrated.

Fill 1/10 the packed tower with water.
Make sure that the CO2 is connected to the inlet space.
Increase the water stream until it reaches 6 L/min.
Increase the air stream (Use a low value for the first run)
Use CO2 fixed at around 5% (v/v)
Keeping the system running for some minutes.
Check the flow rates pushing a digital CO2 meter button.
Repeat the procedure two more times.
Fix the value of 6L/min to the water flow rate.
Use different values of CO2 and air flow rates.

PRESENTATION OF RESULTS

Water Flow
Rate (L/min)

CO2 expected
at 5%(v/v)

CO2 Flow
Rate (L/min)

Air Flow
Rate(ft3/min)

CO2 in (%)

CO2 out (%)

4.5

2.5

5.08

4.60

4
6

6.8

4.0

5.04

4.70

7.9

5.4

5.03

4.94

Tab1.

Column data and result for CO2 Absorption from air using water.

Conversion of units:
-1 m3 = 264.17 gallons
-1m3 = 1000L
-1 ft3= 28.3168 L
-1 mol = 22.4 L

Water Flow
Rate (mol/min)

CO2 expected
at 5%(v/v)

Air Flow
Rate(mol/min
)
3.16

CO2 in (%)

CO2 out (%)

CO2 Flow
Rate
(mol/min)
0.20

0.26

5.08

4.60

0.26

0.30

5.05

5.04

4.70

0.26

0.35

6.82

5.03

4.94

Tab 2: Column data and result for CO2 absorption from air using water in (mol/min) unit.

DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION

APPENDICE

1. Flow chart

x3 mol CO2/mol
n3 mol/ min

3.36 mol/mol air

n1 mol/min

n2 mol/min

0.21 mol O2 /mol

0.0508 mol CO2/mol

0.0460 mol CO2/mol

0.79 mol N2/mol

x1 mol O2/ mol

x2 mol O2/mol

1-0.0508-x1 mol N2/mol

0.20 mol CO2/min

1-0.0460- x2 mol N2/mol

0.26 mol H2O/min

Figure 1: Absorption column with values obtained and unknown variables.

2. Calculus for the first run

1.

Conversion of units:

Water stream:
(6L/min) x (1 mol/22.4L) = 0.26 mol/min
(6L/ 1 min)x(1m3/ 1000L)x(264.17gal/ 1m3)= 1.59 gal/min H2O
Air flow rate (first run):
(2.5 ft3/min) x (28.3168L/ft3) x (1 mol/ 22.4L) = 3.16 mol/min
CO2 flow:
(4.5L/min) x (1 mol/22.4L) = 0.20 mol/min

2. Find n1, n2, n3, x1, x2, x3

Find n1
3.36+ 0.20 = n1

n1= 3.56 mol/min

Find x1
0.21*3.36 = x1*3.56 x1= 0.19 mol O2/ mol
Find n2 and x2
Balance of O2 - 0.19*3.56 = x2* n2

0.67= x2*n2

Balance of N2 - 1-0.0508-x1* n1 = (1-0.0460- x2)* n2

1-0.0508- 0.19 = (1- 0.0460 x2)*n2
0.75= (0.954) * n2 x2*n2

x2= 0.67/n2

0.75= (0.954) * n2 ( 0.67/n2) * n2

n2= 1.48 mol/min

x2= 0.67/1.48

x2= 0.45 mol O2/ mol

Find n3 and x3
Overall balance 3.36 + 0.20 = 1.48 + n3
n3= 2.08 mol/min
0.0508*3.56 = 0.0460* 1.48 + x3* 2.08

x3= 0.053 mol O2/ mol

REFERENCE