Sulfuric Acid – The Absorber

ABSORBER
Converter Gas: SO2, SO3, O2, N2

Absorbing medium: Mixture of H2SO4 and water – Pure water

cannot be effective because it will boil with SO2 and only fumes of
the acid will be formed due to greater pressure water than SO3.

Reaction: SO3 + H2O → H2SO4 ∆H = -31143 cal/mol

Negligible side reactions: SO2 + ½O2 → SO3

SO2 + H2O → H2SO3
ABSORBER

Absorber Gas: SO2, O2, N2

Product: 1. 100% H2SO4 (equivalent amount of SO3 & H2O)
2. <100% H2SO4 (greater H2O than SO3)
3. >100% H2SO4 (less H2O than SO3) – Oleum (H2SO4·SO3)
Material Balance @ Absorber
1. A converter gas contains 10 mole SO3. If this
converter gas is allowed to pass through an
absorber utilizing 80% H2SO4 as absorbing
solution, calculate the weight of the product if
the desired product is
a. 98% H2SO4
b. 100% H2SO4
c. 105% H2SO4
Material Balance @ Absorber
1. A converter gas contains 10 mole SO3. If this converter gas is
allowed to pass through an absorber utilizing 80% H2SO4 as
absorbing solution, calculate the weight of the product if the
desired product is
a. 98% H2SO4
80% H2SO4

10 mole SO3 Absorber gas Required: wt of Product

Absorber

98% H2SO4
Material Balance @ Absorber
A, g S balance
0.8 𝐴 0.98 𝑃
10 + 98 = 98
OMB
10(80) + A = P
Or
H balance
Or
O balance
A = 1088.89 g
P, g P = 1888.89 g
Required: wt of Product
Material Balance @ Absorber
1. A converter gas contains 10 mole SO3. If this converter gas is
allowed to pass through an absorber utilizing 80% H2SO4 as
absorbing solution, calculate the weight of the product if the
desired product is
b. 100% H2SO4
80% H2SO4

10 mole SO3 Absorber gas

Absorber Required: wt of Product

100% H2SO4
Material Balance @ Absorber
S balance
0.8 𝐴 𝑃
10 + 98 = 98
OMB
10(80) + A = P
Or
H balance
Or
O balance
A = 900 g
P = 1700 g
Required: wt of Product
Material Balance @ Absorber
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

H2O + SO3 → H2SO4

1
H2O needed = 10(1) = 10 mol
100
Wt of 80 % H2SO4 needed = 10(18)( 20 )
= 900 g
P = 10(80) + 900
P = 1700 g
Required: wt of Product
Material Balance @ Absorber
1. A converter gas contains 10 mole SO3. If this converter gas is
allowed to pass through an absorber utilizing 80% H2SO4 as
absorbing solution, calculate the weight of the product if the
desired product is
c. 105% H2SO4
80% H2SO4

10 mole SO3 Absorber gas

Absorber Required: wt of Product

105% H2SO4
Material Balance @ Absorber
S balance
0.8 𝐴 1.05𝑃
10 + 98 = 98
OMB
10(80) + A = P

A = 560 g
P = 1360 g

Required: wt of Product
105 % H2SO4

Example, 20% oleum (free SO3)

20 % SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
98
H2SO4 = 20 ( )
80
= 35.53

80 % H2SO4
Total H2SO4
= 80 + 35.53 = 105.53
105 % H2SO4

Example, 20% oleum (free SO3)

20 % SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
98
H2SO4 = 20 ( )
80
= 35.53

80 % H2SO4
Total H2SO4
= 80 + 35.53 = 105.53
• 105 % H2SO4
80
% oleum = 5( ) = 22.22 % free SO3
18

80
% Total SO3 = 105( ) = 85.71 % SO3
98
balance = 14.29 % H2O

Analysis of Oleum can be as

% free SO3 ( % oleum)
% Total SO3
% Active H2SO4
Material Balance @ Absorber
1. A converter gas contains 10 mole SO3. If this converter gas is
allowed to pass through an absorber utilizing 80% H2SO4 as
absorbing solution, calculate the weight of the product if the
desired product is
c. 105% H2SO4
80% H2SO4

10 mole SO3 Absorber gas

Absorber

22.22% SO3
77.78 % H2SO4
Material Balance @ Absorber
S balance
0.8 𝐴 0.2222𝑃 0.7778𝑃
10 + 98 = 80 + 98
OMB
10(80) + A = P

A = 560 g
P = 1360 g

Required: wt of Product
Material Balance @ Absorber
2. 120 kg per hour of 98% H2SO4 enters an absorption tower of a contact
sulfuric acid plant. If 20% oleum is produced in this tower, how many kg
of SO3 are absorbed per hour.
120 kg /hr
98% H2SO4

SO3 Absorber gas

Absorber Required: Kg SO3 absorbed/hr

20 % SO3
80 % H2SO4
 Material Balance @ Absorber
F. kg S balance
𝐹 0.98(120) 0.2𝑃 0.8𝑃
+ = +
80 98 80 98
OMB
F + 120 = P

P = 163.33 kg/hr
P, kg
F = 143.33 kg/hr

Required: Kg SO3 absorbed/hr