Absorption and Stripping

ADVANCED DIPLOMA
(ADCHME)

SEPARATION PROCESSES IV
PMO470S
(LECTURE 2)

PROF M AZIZ
2024

PMO470S - Absorption & Stripping -2024

 EXAMPLE 1
A coal gas is to be feed of its light oil by scrubbing with wash oil, flowing
counter-currently as an absorbent in a packed tower. The light oil is then
recovered by stripping the solution with steam in a packed column. The
circumstances are as follows:
a) Absorber:
The coal gas is fed to the absorber at a rate of 0.5 m3/sec at 803 mm Hg and
26 oC and contains 2% by volume. The light oil is assumed to be entirely
benzene, and 95% removal of the light oil is required. The wash oil enters the
absorber at 26 oC and contains 0.005 mole fraction benzene and has an average
MM of 260. An oil circulation rate of 1.5 times the minimum must be used.
Wash-oil-benzene systems are ideal and the temperature is kept constant at 26
oC when the vapor pressure of benzene is 100 mm Hg.

b) Stripper:
The solution from the absorber is heated to 120 oC and enters the stripper at
atmospheric pressure. Stripping steam is at 1 atmospheric pressure,
superheated to 122 oC. The debenzolized oil from the stripper is cooled to 26 oC
and returned to the absorber. A steam rate of 1.5 times the minimum must be
used and temperature is kept constant at 122oC inside the stripper. The vapour
pressure of benzene at 122oC is 2400 mm Hg.
Determine the oil and the steam rates required as well as the number
of transfer units required in the absorber and stripper.

2
 Y2=0.001 X2=0.005 Y2=? X2=0.118
Coal Gas Product Wash Oil Feed Stripping Gas Exit Wash Oil Feed
G2 L2

STRIPPER
ABSORBER

Y1=0 X1=0.005
Y1=0.02 X1=?
Stripping Gas Wash Oil Exit
Coal Gas Feed - Wash Oil Exit
Feed
G1 L1

3
 Absorption
4

1. Coordinates (x2;y2)

2. Draw tangent line above equilibrium curve and extend

3. Tangent Line & Y1 linking with X-axis, to find Xmax

4. Calculate minimum solvent rate

5. Us minimum solvent rate to calculate X1

6. Tangent line (x1;y2)

7. Determine stages required

 ABSORPTION
5

Chart Title
0.0250

0.0200

0.0150

0.0100

0.0050

Y2=0.001
0.0000
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25

X2=0.005
 Chart Title
0.0250

0.0200

0.0150

0.0100

0.0050

Y2=0.001
0.0000
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25

X2=0.005 Xmax=0.175

6
 Absorption
0.0250

Y1=0.02
0.0200

Chart Title
0.0250

Y1=0.02
0.0150 0.0200

0.0150

0.0100
0.0100

0.0050

0.0050
Y2=0.001

0.0000
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25

X2=0.005 X2=0.118
Y2=0.001

0.0000
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25

X2=0.005 X2=0.118

7
 STRIPPING
8

Chart Title
0.6000

0.5000

0.4000

0.3000

0.2000

0.1000

Y1=0
0.0000
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14

X1=0.005
 Chart Title
0.6000

0.5000

ymax=0.38 0.4000

0.3000

0.2000

0.1000

Y1=0
0.0000
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14

X1=0.005

9
 Stripping
0.6000

0.5000

0.4000

0.3000

Y2=0.25

0.2000

0.1000

Y1=0
0.0000
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14

X2=0.118
X1=0.005

10
 PROF M AZIZ & the membrane-based
Environmental Engineering Research Unit (MEERU)
PG Graduates – April 2023

THANK YOU!