GAS ABSORPTION

● also known as scrubbing

● 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 operation of absorption is applied in industry to purify

process streams or recover valuable components of the stream. It is
used extensively to remove toxic or noxious components (pollutants)
from effluent gas streams.

The absorption process requires the following steps:

1. diffusion of the solute gas molecules through the host gas to the
liquid boundary layer based on a concentration gradient

2. solvation of the solute gas in the host liquid based on gas-liquid

solubility

3. diffusion of the solute gas based on concentration gradient, thus

depleting the liquid boundary layer and permitting further solvation.
Method of Operation:

A. Counter-current Operation

● it was widely used in the industry.

● the gas enters the column or tower from below as leaves at the top,
while liquid enters from the top and flows in opposite direction and
exits from the bottom.

Figure for Dilute System:

Notations : In terms of mole fraction and total flowrates

y : mole fraction of solute A in the gas phase

x : mole fraction of solute A in the liquid phase
G : total molar flowrate of the gas stream (gas flux), kg-moles/m2.s
L : total molar flowrate of the liquid stream, kg-moles/m2.s

Inside the column, mass transfer takes place as the solute

(component A) is absorbed by the liquid. The quantities of L and x (for
the liquid side) and G and y (for the gas side) varies continuously: as
we gradually move up the column, component A is continuously being
transferred from the gas phase to the liquid phase. Thus, in going up
the column, there is a decrease in the total gas flowrate, and a
decrease in the concentration of A in the gas phase. At the same time,
in going down the column, there is an increase in the total liquid
flowrate, and an increase in the concentration of A in the liquid phase.
Thus,

G1 > G > G 2 L1 > L > L 2

y1 > y > y 2 x1 > x > x 2

The relationship between these variables L, x, G and y is the

operating line equation. The operating line equation is obtained by
material balance around the column.

At steady-state: IN = OUT

Thus, G y + L 1 x1 = L x + G1 y1

Using the dilute system assumptions, we simply the equation and

obtain:

G y = L x + G y1 - L x1

Re-arranging:

Y =[ ] x +[

Since L and G are assumed to be approximately constant, the

operating line is a straight line of the form y = mx + c, with the
gradient of L / G, the liquid-to-gas ratio.
The operating line connects the 2 end points - point 1 (x1 , y1) that
represents conditions at the bottom of the column, and point 2 (x2 ,
y2) that represents conditions at the top of the column.

B. Co-current Gas Absorption

● This mode of operation is seldom used in practice.

● It is less efficient than counter-current operation.

The main points to note about this operation are as follow:

● The operating line has negative slope.

● The is no minimum liquid-to-gas ratio.

● To produce an exit liquid and gas streams at equilibrium (xe,

ye) on the equilibrium curve, an infinitely tall column must be used.

ABSORPTION EQUIPMENT

● Tray (or plate or stage) Columns - The types of trays used in

absorption include: sieve tray, valve tray and bubble-cap trays. These
internals are the same as those covered in "Distillation".

● Packed Column - Both random and structured packings had been

used.

● Spray Column - The gas flows upward continuously through an

open chamber in which scrubbing liquid droplets falls from spray
nozzles through the gas. The gas pressure drop is small, but separation
is not as good as the bubble column. This column is widely used for its
simplicity, low pressure drop, and resistance to scale deposition and
plugging.

● Bubble Column - The gas is forced under pressure through

perforated pipes submerged in the scrubbing liquid. As such the gas
phase is dispersed and the liquid phase is continuous. As the bubbles
rise through the liquid, absorption of the gas occurs. This type of
device suffers from the high pressure drop due to the liquid hydrostatic
head.

Types of Absorption Processes:

Physical Absorption

● can be used as an alternative to distillation for the separation

of light gases.

Chemical Absorption

● is important for removal of acid gases and for chemicals

production.

Application of Gas Absorption

1. Coking
2. Coal-Fired power plant
3. Natural Gas Production
4. Microelectronics Manufacturing
5. Ground Water Remediation

GAS DESORPTION

● also known as Stripping

 ● The process of removing gas dissolved in a liquid and where the liberated gas
is taken up in a gas or vapor in contact with the liquid.

● The mass transfer is in the opposite direction, i.e. from the

liquid phase to the gas phase.