CHE 246

SEPARATION PROCESS

CHAPTER 3:
GAS
ABSORPTION
NORHAFINI BINTI HAMBALI
FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
UITM PASIR GUDANG

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 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Describe gas-liquid equilibrium for ideal solution
according to Raoult's law.
 Differentiate packed and plate tower.
 Explain packing materials and flow arrangement in
packed tower.
 Calculate the packed tower diameter and height of an
absorption towers.
 Demonstrate the material balance and calculate the
number of theoretical stages in a multistage counter
current operation of a plate absorption tower by a
graphical method.
 Demonstrate effective team role and communication skills.
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SYLLABUS CONTENT
 SYLLABUS TIMELINE Lecture week

Sem break

Fe
Chapter March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020
b

Week 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

1) Mass transfer

2) Distillation

3) Gas Absorption

4) Liquid-liquid
extraction

5) Special topics
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 CONTENTS
1. Definition, applications and notations used in gas
absorption
2. Gas-liquid equilibrium for ideal solution according to
Raoult’s Law
3. Equipment and description for gas absorption.
4. Packed tower: description and flow arrangement
5. Packing materials: characteristic and geometrical shapes
6. Multistage counter current operation
7. Plate tower – description and design
i. Material balance
ii. Number of theoretical stages: graphical method

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WHAT IS GAS ABSORPTION?
• Gas absorption (known as scrubbing) is an operation in
which a gas mixture is contacted with a liquid for the
purpose of preferentially dissolving one or more
components of the gas mixture and to provide a solution
of them in the liquid
• There is a mass transfer of the component of the gas from
the gas phase to the liquid phase
• The solute so transferred is said to be absorbed by the
liquid
• The process of gas absorption thus involves the diffusion
of solute from the gas phase through a stagnant or non-
diffusing liquid
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3.1 DEFINITION AND APPLICATION OF GAS ABSORPTION

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

• The insoluble components present in the gas which is not absorbed is called the
carrier gas.

• Transfer is based on the preferential solubility of solutes in the liquid

(solvent).

• Example: Removal H2S (solute) from natural gas (carrier) using suitable solvent
such as an aqueous solution of an alkanolamine, (solvent). An intimate contact
between the gas and the liquid is achieve in the suitable equipment or device like
packed column, try column, spray tower etc.

• The reverse of absorption is called desorption or stripping

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3.1 DEFINATION AND APPLICATION OF GAS ABSORPTION

- Commonly used in environment applications i.e:-

i. Removal/ recovery of NH3 in fertilizer manufacturing
ii. Control of SO2 from combustion source
iii. Control of odorous gases from rendering plants
iv. Removal of CO2 from air etc.

- Important terms:-
i. Feed (Absorbate) : the gas mixture which to be extracted
ii. Solvent (Absorbent) : the liquid which the feed is contacted
iii. Extract : the solvent-rich product
iv. Raffinate : the residual gas mixture which solute(s)
has been removed.

-The most widely used solvent (absorbent) are:-

i. Water
ii. Hydrocarbon oils
iii. Aqueous solutions of acids and base

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3.1 DEFINATION AND APPLICATION OF GAS ABSORPTION

The ideal solvent (absorbent) should :-

• has a high solubility for the solute (s) to minimize the need for
solvent
• has a low volatility to reduce the loss of solvent and facilitate
separation of solvent from solute(s)
• be stable to maximize solvent life and reduce solvent make-up
requirement (solvent cost correlated).
• be non corrosive to permit use of common materials of constructions.
• has a low viscosity to provide low pressure drop and high mass and
heat transfer rates
• be non foaming when contacted with the gas to prevent the change in
absorber’s dimensions.
• be non-toxic and non-flammable to facilitate the safety issue
• be available, if possible within the process to prevent the usage of
external sources
• be inexpensive (cheap) & commercially available.
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THANK
YOU
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