GAS ABSORPTION & DESORPTION

Gas absorption (also 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.

Therefore we can see that 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.

In gas desorption (or stripping), the mass transfer is in the opposite direction, i.e. from the liquid phase
to the gas phase. The principles for both systems are the same.

We will focus on the analysis for gas absorption, for the simple case whereby only one component of the
gas solute is being absorbed. The other components of the gas are assumed to be non-soluble in the
liquid (i.e. the other gas components are inert components), and the liquid is non-volatile, which means
that there is no transfer of molecules from the liquid to the gas phase.

In addition, we assume there is no chemical reaction in the system and that it is operating at isothermal
condition.

The process of gas absorption thus involves the diffusion of solute from the gas phase through a
stagnant or non-diffusing liquid.

Reference: http://www.separationprocesses.com/Absorption/GA_Chp03.htm