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Bureau of Mines

Report of Investigations 5484

EQUILIBRIUM STUDY OF THE SYSTEM POTASSIUM

CARBONATE, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE,

CARBON DIOXIDE, AND WATER

By J. S. Tosh, J. H. Field, H. E. Benson, and W. P. Haynes

C A L I F 0 R ft ! *

INSTITUTE f.2F !

JUL 2 - 1959 I

TECHNOLOGY '

GEOLOGIC

LfBWAHf *-

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

3 9015 07854 2415

United States Department of the Interior 1959

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The Library of Congress has cataloged this publication as follows:

Tosh, John S

Equilibrium study of the system potassium carbonate,

potassium bicarbonate, carbon dioxide and water, by J. S.

Tosh (and others. Washington] U. S. Dept. of the Interior,

Bureau of Mines, 1959.

ii, 23 p. illus. 27 cm. (U. S. Bureau of Mines. Report of inves-

tigations, 5484)

Bibliographical footnotes.

1. Potassium carbonates. 2. Carbon dioxide. 3. Chemical equi-

librium, r. Title. (Series)

[TN23.U43 no. 5484] Int 59-72

V. S. Dept. of the Interior. Library

for Library of Congress

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CONTENTS

Page

Summary 1

Introduction 1

Description of equipment 4

Operating procedure 5

Experimental results and discussion... 8

Correlation of data 18

ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig.

1. Rocking autoclave unit used in carbonate equilibrium

s tudies 3

2. Schematic of rocking autoclave unit 4

3. Autoclave and condenser assembly 5

4. Rocking autoclave unit and gas sampling manifold

used in carbonate equilibrium studies 6

5. Equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide over 20-

percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution ... 13

6. Equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide over 30-

percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution... 13

7. Equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide over 40-

percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution... 14

8. Equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide over 20-

percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution... 15

9. Equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide over 30-

percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution... 15

10. Equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide over 40-

percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution... 16

11. Equilibrium pressure of water vapor over 20-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 17

12. Equilibrium pressure of water vapor over 30-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 17

13. Equilibrium pressure of water vapor over 40-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 18

14. Equilibrium pressure of water vapor over 20-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 19

15. Equilibrium pressure of water vapor over 30-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 20

16. Equilibrium pressure of water vapor over 40-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 20

17. Variations of K with conversion for 40-percent

equivalent potassium carbonate solution 22

18. Variations of K with temperature and concentration.. 23

19. Comparison of constants with those of previous

inves tigators 23

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ii

TABLES

No. Page

1. Typical analyses of duplicate gas samples by mass

spectrometer 8

2. Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water

vapor over 20-percent equivalent potassium carbonate

solution 9

3. Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water

vapor over 30-percent equivalent potassium carbonate

solution 10

4. Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water

vapor over 40-percent equivalent potassium carbonate

solution. 11

5. Average values of K for 20- and 30-percent

concentrations 21

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EQUILIBRIUM STUDY OF THE SYSTEM POTASSIUM CARBONATE

POTASSIUM BICARBONATE, CARBON DIOXIDE, AND WATER-^

by

J. S. Tosh,^ J. H. Field,2/ H. E. Benson,^ and W. P. Haynes^

SUMMARY

An equilibrium study of the system potassium carbonate, potassium bicar-

bonate, carbon dioxide, and water has been conducted with solutions of 20-,

30-, and 40-percent equivalent potassium carbonate concentrations. These

equilibrium data cover the operating range of the hot carbonate scrubbing

system for removing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures. Such data are necessary

to establish the limits of purification and are used to design absorption and

regeneration towers.

Values of K in the relationship: K = (KHC03)2/(K2C03)PC02 we*e deter-

mined for higher temperatures of 70 to 140 C. and greater concentrations,

20 to 40 percent, than employed by previous investigators. For the 20- and

30-percent concentrations, K is constant at a given temperature; thus, once K

has been determined the equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide can be calcu-

lated for any conversion. Variation of K values with changing conversion was

observed with the 40-percent solutions, so that equilibrium calculated pres-

sures are less reliable from average K values.

INTRODUCTION

A new, improved process for removing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures by

hot solutions of potassium carbonate, has been developed by the Bureau of

M-fnp.s.5 6/ xhe process provides an effective and economical method for remov-

ing carbon dioxide from synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydro-

gen, used in producing synthetic liquid fuels from coal. In this purification

1/ Manuscript completed January 7, 1959. Titles of publications cited herein

in parentheses are translations from the language in which they were

published.

7J Chemical engineer, Bureau of Mines, Region V, Pittsburgh, Pa.

3/ Acting chief, Gas Synthesis Section, Bureau of Mines, Region V, Pittsburgh,

Pa.

4/ Former chief, Gas Synthesis Section, Bureau of Mines, Region V, Pittsburgh,

Pa.

5/ Benson, H. E., Field, J. H., and Jimeson, R. M., CO2 Absorption Employing

Hot Potassium Carbonate Solutions: Chem. Eng. Prog., vol. 50, No. 7,

1954, pp. 352-364.

6/ Benson, H. E., Field, J. H., and Haynes, W. P., Improved Process for CO2

Absorption Uses Hot Carbonate Solutions: Chem. Eng. Prog., vol. 52, No.

10, 1956, pp. 433-438.

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process the acid gas is absorbed at elevated pressures at or near the tempera-

ture prevailing in the regenerator. The solution is depressurized and regener-

ated by conventional steam stripping. The need for heating the spent solution

between the absorption and regeneration steps is eliminated, and costs are

saved for both steam and heat-exchange equipment.

Equilibrium data for the system potassium carbonate-potassium bicarbonate-

carbon dioxide-water are not available at the operating conditions used in this

process. Several investigators ZrJ-Q/previously published equilibrium data for

carbon dioxide over solutions of potassium carbonate. All of these studies

used dilute solutions, 0.1 to 2 N at low temperatures, generally less than

100 C.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot plant in removing carbon diox-

ide from gas mixtures, a stainless steel autoclave was operated concurrently

to provide the necessary equilibrium data. Partial pressures of carbon dioxide

and water vapor were first measured between 110 and 140 C. over solutions of

potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate equivalent to an original 40-

percent concentration of potassium carbonate. Equilibrium curves for these

data were published previously.11.' Subsequent measurements were made down to

70 C. and 0-percent conversion to extend these equilibrium curves. The ex-

panded data are included in this report. To broaden the scope of the original

study, equilibrium pressures over both 30-percent and 20-percent equivalent

potassium carbonate solutions were determined since these concentrations also

are of practical interest.

"Equivalent concentration of potassium carbonate" refers to a solution in

which only potassium carbonate and water are present. Thus a 40-percent equiv-

alent solution means a solution that would contain 40 grams of potassium car-

bonate and 60 grams of water if all the bicarbonate in the system were con-

verted back to carbonate.l^/

7/ Sieverts, A., and Fritzsche, A., (Potassium Carbonate Solutions and CO2. 1):

Ztschr. anorg. Chem., vol. 133, 1924, pp. 1-16.

8/ Walker, A. C, Bray, U. B., and Johnson, J., Equilibrium in Solutions of

Alkali Carbonates: Jour. Am. Chem., vol. 49, 1927, pp. 1235-1256.

9/ Brukner, B., and Wachtler, E., (Partial Pressures of Carbon Dioxide in

Aqueous Solutions of Alkali Carbonates and Bicarbonates): Ztschr.

Wirtschuftsgruppe Zuckerind., vol. 91, 1941, pp. 254-274.

10/ Dryden, I.G.C., Equilibrium Between Gaseous Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen

Sulphide and Solutions of Alkali Carbonates, Bicarbonates and Hydro-

sulphides. Part I. Potassium Salts: Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., vol. 66,

1947, pp. 59-62.

11/ Work cited in footnote 6, p. 1.

12/ A 40-percent potassium carbonate solution completely converted to bicar-

bonate contains 0 percent K2CO3, 51.4 percent KHCO3, and 48.6 percent

H20.

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FIGURE 1. - Rocking Autoclave Unit Used in Carbonate Equilibrium Studies.

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DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT

Inert gas -

60-100 ps.i.g.

-M-

Pressure regulator

Flexible

connection

Bleed line

-Kr

Vacuum

Open-end

manometer

Bleed line

Manostat

pressure

controller

The equilibrium study was conducted in the rocking autoclave shown in

figure 1. A schematic of the unit is given in figure 2. The autoclave con-

sists of a 3-inch schedule-

40 pipe of stainless steel

(Type 304) approximately 3

feet long, jacketed by a 4-

inch schedule 40-pipe of car-

bon steel. A cross-sectional

view of the autoclave-conden-

ser assembly is shown in fig-

ure 3. The assembly is

flanged on one end to facili-

tate charging and discharging.

Internal pressures are indi-

cated on 4 gages covering the

range from 30 inches of mer-

cury vacuum to 1,000 p.s.i.g.

These gages are calibrated

periodically with a dead-

weight tester. The accuracy

is 0.1 p.s.i.g. between 30

inches of mercury vacuum and

60 p.s.i.g., and 0.25

p.s.i.g. between 60 and 300

p.s.i.g. The pressure at

equilibrium in these tests

did not exceed the range of

the 300 p.s.i.g. gage. A

shutoff valve is provided for

each gage to allow selection

of the appropriate pressure

range for best accuracy. The

pressure gages, their con-

necting lines, and all other

parts of the system that come

in contact with either the

gases in the autoclave or

Thermometer

*( Condenser )*I

Cooling-water

Gos-sampling valve

Autoclave

4s Thermocouple wel

Liquid-sampling

valve

FIGURE 2. - Schematic of Rocking Autoclave Unit,

with the carbonate solutions are constructed of stainless steel.

Heat is applied through an electric winding on the outside of the jacket.

Desired temperatures are obtained by boiling water at appropriate pressures in

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To jacket-pressure

controller

Cooling- water

exit "

Cooling-water

inlet

Pressure tap

^/Thermocouple well

Liquid-sampling

port

FIGURE 3. - Autoclave and Condenser Assembly.

A 1/3-hp. electric motor coupled with a 72:1 gear reducer rocks the auto-

clave condenser assembly through an arc of approximately 30 at a rate of 24

cycles per minute. The rocking motion conveyed to the autoclave insures uni-

form temperature in the contained charge, thorough dissolution of the solids,

and intimate contact between the liquid and the gas phase. These factors

assist in attaining equilibrium in a reasonable time.

When equilibrium is reached, as indicated by a constant pressure, samples

of the gas are drawn into a gas-sampling apparatus (fig. 4) through a length

of glass tubing connecting the apparatus to the gas-sampling port. The gas-

sampling valve is heated by means of an electrical tape heater. Its tempera-

ture is determined through a thermocouple attached to the valve body. By

maintaining the temperature of the valve at, or slightly above, the equilibrium

temperature, condensation of water vapor passing through the valve during sam-

pling is prevented. The gas-sampling apparatus consists of a glass manifold

to which are attached the sample bottles, a vacuum pump, a closed-end mercury

manometer for measuring the absolute pressure of the samples; and a 10-liter

bottle, which, because of its volume, ensures an efficient purge of the line

leading to the gas-sample bottles. With this equipment duplicate gas samples

are taken without stopping the rocking motion of the autoclave and therefore

without disturbing equilibrium conditions.

OPERATING PROCEDURE

Weighed amounts of commercial-grade calcined potassium carbonate!-/ and

13/ Typical chemical analysis of potassium carbonate (analysis supplied by

Harshaw Chemical Company): K2CO3 99.50, KOH 0.07, KC1 0.03, Fe203

0.0002, AS2O3 0.00002, Pb 0.0001, Na20 0.045 percent.

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Equilibrium Studies.

FIGURE 4. - Rocking Autoclave Unit and Gas-Sampling Manifold Used in Carbonate

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reagent-grade potassium bicarbonatelz' are charged to the autoclave. The fol-

lowing formulas, based on a mass balance of the reaction:

(K2C03 + co2 + H2 ^ 2KHC03),

are used to determine the weights of ingredients that make up a solution:

FC = (l-FVCC"1 + 0.3182 F),

Ffi = 1.4486/ [(CF)-1 + 0.3182],

Fw = [(1-C) - 0.1304 CF]/[(1 + 0.3182 CF)];

where:

Fq = weight fraction of potassium carbonate in converted solution,

Fg = weight fraction of potassium bicarbonate in converted solution,

Fjj = weight fraction of water in converted solution,

C = weight fraction of potassium carbonate in the original or unconverted

solution,

F = fraction of potassium carbonate converted to bicarbonate.

The weight fractions of ingredients thus determined yield a solution of

set concentration and conversion at room temperature. When the solution is

heated to equilibrium temperature, a portion of the bicarbonate decomposes,

liberating carbon dioxide. Therefore, the fraction of carbonate, converted to

bicarbonate under final equilibrium conditions, must be recalculated; this

takes into account the amount of carbon dioxide in the gas phase.

After the solids have been added, the autoclave is assembled, evacuated

to about 5 mm. Hg to eliminate most of the air and leak-tested with inert gas

at 50 to 100 p.s.i.g. When the system is leakfree, the pressure is again re-

duced to approximately 5 mm. Hg. The quantity of water necessary to yield the

desired concentration is drawn into the autoclave through the gas-sampling

port. The rocking mechanism is started, the appropriate pressure set in the

steam jacket, and heat applied. When the desired temperature has been maintained

14/ Typical chemical analysis of potassium bicarbonate (Fischer certificate of

analysis lot 754945):

Percent Percent

Insoluble matter 0.007 Sulfate (SO4) 0.000

Normal carbonate 00 Calcium, magnesium and

Chloride (CI) 0002 NH4OH ppt 003

Nitrogen (N) 0003 Heavy metals (as Pb) 0001

Phosphate (PO4) 000 Iron (Fe) 0000

Sodium (Na) 02

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for at least one-half hour, gas samples are taken to be analyzed by the mass

spectrometer for carbon dioxide and water vapor. Since the gas in the auto-

clave contains water vapor, the pressure of the gas sample during the sampling

procedure must be kept below the saturated water-vapor pressure to prevent

condensation.

To sample the gas, the sampling apparatus is attached to the gas-sampling

port and evacuated to about 1 mm. Hg. The vacuum line is closed and the gas-

sampling valve throttled. This valve permits gas from the autoclave to flow

into the sampling apparatus. When the manifold pressure reaches 20 mm. Hg the

sampling valve is closed, the 10-liter bottle is isolated from the system,

and the pressure is again reduced. After two more purges, the sample bottles

are pressurized to 20 mm. Hg and removed from the manifold. The amount of gas

used in this procedure is approximately 200 cc. This volume has been found

adequate to purge the sample bottles effectively. Duplicate samples of gas

are taken for each test and ordinarily analyzed the same day to minimize air

contamination. For a particular analysis, the precision of the mass spectrom-

eter is approximately 0.2 percent. To show the overall reproducibility of

the analytical results, typical analyses of two sets of duplicate samples are

shown in table 1, where each sample was analysed two times by the mass

spectrometer.

TABLE 1. - Typical analyses of duplicate gas samples

by mass spectrometer

Water,

volume-percent

Carbon dioxide,

volume-percent

Sample No.

83 A-l

51.1

52.6

48.9

47.4

83 A-2

51.0

50.0

49.0

85 A-l

59.0

58.7

50.0

41.0

85 A-2

59.4

58.9

41.3

40.6

41.1

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Equilibrium partial pressures of carbon dioxide and water vapor were de-

termined at 70 to 130 C. over 20- and 30-percent equivalent potassium carbon-

ate solutions, and at 70 to 140 C. over a 40-percent solution. These results

are summarized in the first five columns of tables 2 to 4.

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TABLE 2. - Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water vapor

over 20-percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution

("Conversion" means conversion of K2CO3 to KHCO3)

Equilibrium

Total

Equilibrium

pressure,

equilibrium

Temperature,

Conversion,

pressure,

water vapor,

pressure,

C.

percent

CO2, p.s.i.

p.s.i.

p.s .i.a.

70

4.18

4.18

10.1

0.03

4.14

4.17

0.045

20.1

.17

3.96

4.13

.039

33.4

.56

3.89

4.45

.039

33.5

.46

4.12

4.58

.048

50.0

1.69

3.49

5.18

.038

66.9

4.30

3.15

7.45

.040

81.1

10.3

2.84

13.1

.044

90

9.23

9.23

10.0

0.08

9.47

9.55

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10

TABLE 3. - Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water vapor

over 30-percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution

("Conversion" means conversion of K2CO3 to KHCO3)

Equilibrium

Total

Equilibrium

pressure,

equilibrium

Temperature,

Convers ion

pressure,

water vapor,

pressure,

C.

percent

CO2, p.s.i.

p.s.i.

p.s.i.a.

70

3.67

3.67

3.99

3.99

10.0

0.04

3.90

3.94

0.056

20.0

.17

3.53

3.70

.063

33.2

.51

4.07

4.58

.068

49.4

1.97

3.59

5.56

.051

65.2

4.44

3.43

7.87

.057

64.8

4.46

3.31

7.77

.055

81.0

12.0

3.32

15.3

.058

90

8.58

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11

TABLE 4. - Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water vapor

over 40-percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution

("Conversion" means conversion of K2CO3 to KHCO3)

Equilibrium

Total

Equilibrium

pressure,

equilibrium

Temperature,

Conversion,

pressure,

water vapor,

pressure,

C.

percent

C02, p.s.i.

p.s.i.

p.s.i.a.

70

10.1

0.04

3.42

3.46

0.085

20.1

.20

3.66

3.86

.078

33.4

.61

3.30

3.91

.084

42.2

1.32

2.89

4.21

.070

90

10.0

0.08

7.41

7.49

0.042

20.0

.34

7.68

8.02

.045

33.3

1.22

7.26

8.48

.041

41.9

2.49

6.97

9.46

.036

110

15.6

15.6

10.0

0.13

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12

TABLE 4. - Equilibrium pressures of carbon dioxide and water vapor over

40-percent equivalent potassium carbonate solution (Con.)

("Conversion" means conversion of K2CO3 to KHCO3)

Equilibrium

Total

Equilibrium

pressure,

equilibrium

Temperature,

Convers ion,

pressure,

water vapor,

pressure,

C.

percent

CO2, p.s.i.

p.s.i.

p.s.i.a.

130

29.8

29.8

10.0

0.20

27.7

27.9

0.017

19.9

1.36

29.1

30.5

.011

29.2

3.94

29.5

33.4

.009

34.6

6.03

28.1

34.1

.009

40.2

6.61

27.7

34.3

.012

54.0

20.5

23.6

44.1

.009

56.8

19.5

20.7

40.2

.011

58.0

30.6

17.5

48.1

.007

61.7

29.8

20.9

50.7

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0 2 40 6 60 100

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHCO3

FIGURE 5. - Equilibrium Pressure of Carbon Dioxide

Over 20-Percent Equivalent Potassium

Carbonate Solution.

0 80 40 80 80 100

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHCO3

FIGURE 6. - Equilibrium Pressure of Carbon Dioxide

Over 30-Percent Equivalent Potassium

Carbonate Solution.

u>

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14

200

UJ

cr

z>

CO

CO

UJ

cr

a.

CD

cr

<

before being admitted to the

top of the absorption column.

Both steps effectively lower

the equilibrium pressure of

carbon dioxide over the solu-

tion.

The partial pressures

of carbon dioxide are also

shown in a Clausius-Clapeyron-

type plot, where the logarithm

of pressure is plotted as a

function of reciprocal abso-

lute temperature for selected

levels of constant conversion.

For the 20-percent solution

(fig. 8) and the 30-percent

solution (fig. 9)JJL' families

of straight parallel lines

were obrained. When the data

for the 40-percent solution

were similarly plotted in

figure 10, the lines were

slightly curved rather than

straight. These plots offer

a convenient method for ex-

trapolating the carbon diox-

ide pressure over a wide range

of temperatures. Once the

pressure at one temperature is

known, the pressure at any

temperature for the same level

of conversion can readily be

obtained by drawing a line

through the point parallel to

the existing lines.

.03

Water-vapor pressures

are shown in figures 11 to

13. Plots of the 20-percent

(fig. 11) and 30-percent (fig.

12) data are quite similar.

In both instances the vapor

pressures either remain near-

ly constant or increase slightly to a maximum at approximately 20-to 40-percent

conversion before starting to decline. A plot of the 40-percent data (fig. 13)

0 20 40 60 80 100

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHC03

FIGURE 7. - Equilibrium Pressure of Carbon Dioxide Over

40-Percent Equivalent Potassium Carbonate

Solution.

15/ The pressures of carbon dioxide plotted in figures 8 to 10 are taken from

the smoothed curves in figures 5 to 7.

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FIGURE 8.

Equilibrium Pressure of Carbon Dioxide Over

20-Percent Equivalent Potassium Carbonate

Solution.

2.75

K X 1.000

2.95

-4

-.6

-.8

- 1.0

2.45

2.55 2.65 2.75

l/TK X 1,000

2.65

2.95

FIGURE 9. - Equilibrium Pressure of Carbon Dioxide Over

30-Percent Equivalent Potassium Carbonate

Solution.

t-n

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16

24

20

-. 12

-.8

2.7 28

l/T K x 1.000

FIGURE 10. - Equilibrium Pressure of Carbon Dioxide Over 40-Per-

cent Equivalent Potassium Carbonate Solution.

shows the same ten-

dency for the pres-

sures to hold steady

to approximately 30-

or 40-percent con-

version, followed by

a rapid rate of de-

cline between 30-

and 60-percent con-

version.

The water-vapor

pressures are also

plotted in a Claus-

ius-Clapeyron form

(figs. 14 to 16).W

If a vapor is assum-

ed to obey the ideal

gas law, this equa-

tion can be inte-

grated to yield log

P = -L/2.303 RT + C,

where P is vapor

pressure, L is the

heat of vaporiza-

tion, and C is a

constant. When log

P is plotted as a

function of recip-

rocal temperature,

the slope of the

line is:

- L/2.303 R or L = - (slope x 2.303 x 1.987).

The Clausius-Clapeyron equation normally applies to equilibrium between

two phases of a pure component; the same method of calculation was used for

the water vapor data. A heat of vaporization of approximately 9,300 calories

per gram mole. (980 B.t.u. per pound) was obtained, which is close to the

average value between 70 and 130 C. obtained from the steam tables. For the

more highly converted 40-percent solutions, as shown in figure 16, the heat

of vaporization apparently is not constant since the slope of the line begins

to change when about 50-percent of the potassium is in the form of bicarbonate

This may be due to an increased concentration of salts formed in the solution

when one molecule of carbonate reacting with carbon dioxide and water forms 2

molecules of bicarbonate.

16/ The pressures of water vapor plotted in figures 14 to 16 are taken from

the smoothed curves in figures 11 to 13.

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0 6 40 60 60 100

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHC03

FIGURE 11. - Equilibrium Pressure of Water Va-

por Over 20-Percent Equivalent

Potassium Carbonate Solution.

40

0 80 4 60 60 100

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHC03

FIGURE 12.-Equilibrium Pressure of Water Va-

por Over 30-Percent Equivalent

Potassium Carbonate Solution.

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18

45

O.

UJ

cr

z>

to

in

UJ

cr

Q.

(T

Q_

<

>

cr

LlI

\-

<

10

90 C.

-A-

0 20 40 60 80 100

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHC03

FIGURE 13. - Equilibrium Pressure of Water Vapor Over

40-Percent Equivalent Potassium Carbon-

ate Solution.

CORRELATION OF DATA

McCoyiZ/ first deter-

mined, for dilute solutions

of sodium carbonate at con-

stant temperature, that

equilibrium in the system

can be expressed as a rela-

tionship between the partial

pressure of carbon dioxide

in the gas phase, the cation

concentration, the concen-

trations of carbonic acid,

normal carbonate, and bicar-

bonate in solution. Later

Sieverts and Fritzschei^/

worked with more concentrated

solutions at higher tempera-

tures. They derived a modi-

fied expression, relating the

concentration of carbonate

and bicarbonate, and the par-

tial pressure of carbon di-

oxide to a constant, K. The

basis for the derivation of

this constant is the rela-

tionship between the effec-

tive concentration or activ-

ity of carbonic acid in solu-

tion and (1) the first and

second ionization constants

of carbonic acid and (2) the

partial pressure of carbon

dioxide in the vapor phase.

For the reaction

K2C03 + H2O + CO2

2KHC0

3'

constant K is expressed as;

K = (KHC03)2/(K2C03)PC02.

The concentrations of

KHCO3 and K2CO3 are given in

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19

1.7

1.5

.4

1.2

UJ

or

=>

to

11

if)

UJ

or

Q_

10

UL

0.

<

>

0.9

or

UJ

<

0.8

0.7

0.4

1111

~\ ~~

\\

\^\

X^\

V\

\^\

\\xx

Conversion of K2C03 to KHCO3 \\ \\

5 *\ \>

_ ^ vs. \N ~~

I \\

1111\

0.6

0.5

2.45

FIGURE 14.

2.55

2.65

l/T

2.75

K X 1,000

2.85

2.95

Equilibrium Pressure of Water Vapor Over 20-Percent

Equivalent Potassium Carbonate Solution.

of carbon dioxide is expressed in mm. Hg. Once K has been determined, the

equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide can be calculated for any conversion.

At the concentrations and temperatures previously investigated by Sieverts

and FritzscheJ^-' and Dryden,2/ K was independent of the conversion to bicar-

bonate but varied with temperature.

K values for the solutions and temperatures used in this investigation

are given in the last columns of tables 2 to 4. For the 20- and 30-percent

19/ Work cited in reference 7, p. 2.

20/ Work cited in reference 10, p. 2.

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20

11111111

111L

//

//

//

//

//

//

/y

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

//

/'

rO

//

jt's

/?/ /

///

/' / /

^ ho |io |cj cviHO |m

/'/

o|11I1

c!j;

/' ' i

o1I111

Jr / /

v/1

1IlIIliI

1111

^ to cm o o> co r-

"Sd'3dnSS3ad U0dVA-eJ3iVM 901

>o

o-s

. D

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21

concentrations, K was constant at a given temperature for each concentration.

In table 5 the average K values for each temperature are summarized. For the

40-percent concentration K does not remain constant at 110 C. and higher but

tends to decrease with increasing conversion to bicarbonate. Thus the equil-

ibrium pressure of carbon dioxide rises more rapidly with conversion of the

40-percent concentration than for the more dilute solutions. The variation of

K with conversion at the 40-percent concentration is illustrated in figure 17.

K values used to prepare this figure are calculated from the smoothed equilib-

rium pressure curves of figure 7 to minimize variations from the individual

tests. The variation in K occurs at the 40-percent concentration because there

is greater deviation from ideality of the ionization constants of carbonic

acid - one of the bases for deriving K - as the solution becomes less dilute.

TABLE 5. - Average values of K for 20- and 30-percent concentrations

Average percent

deviation from

arithmetic mean

Temperature,

Number

of tests

Arithmetic

mean of K

Mean error of

arithmetic mean

20

-percent con

centrations

70

0.042

.022

.013

.0086

0.001

.001

.0003

.0001

7.8

90

8.4

7.7

4.4

110

12

130

30

-percent con

centrations

70

0.058

.030

.017

.011

0.004

.003

.001

.001

7.6

9.4

5.9

90

110

130

11.4

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22

.024

.020

0 15

.010

005

obtained lower values

than Sieverts and

Fritzsche23/ at 30 to

60 C. Because the

slopes of the curves

differ appreciably, if

Dryden's curve is ex-

tended to higher tem-

peratures , it crosses

that of Sieverts and

Fritzsche at about 75

C, indicating that

further extrapolation

would give higher

values for Dryden above

this temperature. Dry-

den's curve between 0

and 30 C. shows a lin-

ear change of the loga-

rithm of K with recip-

rocal temperature.

However, there is a de-

viation from the linear

relationship from 30

to 60 C. The data for

20-percent concentration

between 70 and 130 C.

shows a slight upward

slope, and very nearly

lines up with Dryden's

data between 0 and 30

C. This would indicate

that the change in slope

exhibited by Dryden's

data between 30 and 60

C. is not consistent.

20 40 60 80

PERCENT OF K2C03 CONVERTED TO KHC03

100

FIGURE 17. - Variations of K With Conversion for 40-

Percent Equivalent Potassium Carbon-

ate Solution.

23/ Sieverts, A., and Fritzsche, A. (Potassium Carbonate Solutions and CO;

1): Ztschr. anorg. Chem., vol. 133, 1924, pp. 1-16.

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.02

006

JL

2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8

l/T'K X 1,000

2.9 3.0

FIGURE 18. - Variations of K With Temperature and

Concentration.

.2

.06

.06

.04

.02

.006 -

0.1

.08

.06

.04

.01

.008

a-20 percent solution

- 30 percent solution

.01

.006

.004

2.3 2.5

2.7

D Sieverts and Fritzsche 2.0N

O Dryden 2.0N

X Brukner ond Wbchtler O.IN

A This study 3.44 N

JiL

2.9 3.1

l/T K x 1,000

3.3 3.5 3.7

FIGURE 19. - Comparison of Constants With Those

of Previous Investigators.

I NT - BU . 0 F M I NES .P GH. .PA. 252

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