Absorption

and
Stripping

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The objective is:

 To understand the absorption( Gas-Liquid) process

 To make the material balance for a absorption system

 To understand the concept of equilibrium stages and their

estimation

 To understand the stripping process

 To make the material balance for a stripping system

 To understand the concept of equilibrium stages and their

estimation
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Introduction
A mass transfer operation – same category as distillation
Exclusive to gas-liquid separation
Distillation uses the VLE, i.e. difference in boiling temperatures
Absorption uses the GLE, i.e. solubility
gas is absorbed into liquid
liquid  solvent or absorbent
gas absorbed  solute or absorbate
Stripping is reverse of absorption
liquid absorbed into gas
act of regenerating the absorbent

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Introduction
Absorption in the industry
Air pollution control – scrubbing of SO2 , NO2 ,
from combustion exhaust (power plant flue
gas)
Absorption of ammonia from air with water
Hydrogenation of edible oils – H2 is absorbed
in oil and reacts with the oil in the presence
of catalyst

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 How does it work?
Good
product

Solvent

This section can be

trayed or packed

Solute with
inert gas
unwanted gas
solution to
disposal or
recovery

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How does it work?

Tray
tower Packed
tower

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How does it work?
Tray tower:
Absorption on each tray

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How does it work?
Tray tower:
Bubble
Types of tray Cap
Sieve Valve

A full tray

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How does it work?
Packed tower:
1. Structured packing
2. Random packing

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How does it work?
Packed tower:
Structured packing

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How does it work?
Packed tower:
Structured packing

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How does it work?
Packed tower:
Random packing

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How does it work?
Spray tower

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How does it work?
Bubble Column

Liquid solvent “bed”

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General Design Considerations
• Entering gas (liquid) flow rate, composition,
temperature and pressure

• Desired degree of recovery of one or more

solutes

• Choice of absorbent (stripping agent)

• Operating pressure and temperature, and

allowable gas pressure drop

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 General Design Considerations
• Minimum absorbent (stripping agent) flow rate
and actual absorbent (stripping agent) flow rate
as a multiple of the minimum flow rate

• Number of equilibrium stages

• Heat effects and need for cooling (heating)

• Type of absorber (stripper) equipment

• Diameter of absorber (stripper)

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The ideal absorbent should:

• have a high solubility for the solute

• have a low volatility
• be stable
• be noncorrosive
• have a low viscosity
• be nonfoaming
• be nontoxic and nonflammable
• be available, if possible, within the
process
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The most widely used absorbents are:
• water
• hydrocarbon oil
• aqueous solution of acids and bases

The most widely used stripping agents are:

• water vapor
• air
• inert gases
• hydrocarbon gases

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Equilibrium Contact Stages
Single
multiple

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 Single Equilibrium Stage

V1 V2
L0 L1

Single equilibrium stage system above

Mass balance:
L0 + V2 = L1 + V1

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 Single Equilibrium Stage
V1 V2
L0 L1

Mass balance: L0 + V2 = L1 + V1

Gas-liquid absorption – usually 3 components

involved. Let A, B and C be the components, then
L0xA0 + V2yA2 = L1xA1 + V1yA1
L0xC0 + V2yC2 = L1xC1 + V1yC1
and xA + xB + xC = 1.0

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 Single Equilibrium Stage
V1 V2
L0 L1

L0xA0 + V2yA2 = L1xA1 + V1yA1

L0xC0 + V2yC2 = L1xC1 + V1yC1
xA + xB + xC = 1.0
To solve these 3 equations – their
equilibrium relations will be required

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 Single Equilibrium Stage
V1 V2
L0 L1

Gas phase – V
Components – A (solute) and B (inert)
Liquid phase – L
Components – C
In gas phase you have binary A-B
In liquid phase you have binary A-C

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 Single Equilibrium Stage
V1 V2
L0 L1

Only A redistributes between both phases.

Take mole balance of A:
' x A0 ' y A2 'x A1 'y A1
L V L V
1 x A0 1 y A2 1 x A1 1 y A1

where L’ moles of C and V’ moles of B

Tutorial: Derive/Proof this

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 Single Equilibrium Stage
V1 V2
L0 L1

' x A0 ' y A2 ' x A1 ' y A1

L V L V
1 x A0 1 y A2 1 x A1 1 y A1

To solve this, equilibrium relationship

between yA1 and xA1 is needed.
Use Henry’s Law: yA1= H’ xA1
H’ – Henry’s law constant (obtainable in
Handbooks eg Perry’s)
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Countercurrent Multiple-Contact Stages
V1 V2 V3 Vn Vn+1 VN VN+1

1 2 n N

L0 L1 L2 Ln-1 Ln LN-1 LN

Total overall balance:

L0 + VN + 1 = LN + V1 = M where M is the total flow

Overall Component Balance:

L0xo + VN + 1 yN +1 = LNxN + V1 y1 = Mxm

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Making a total balance over the first n stages,

L0 + Vn + 1 = Ln + V1

Making a component balance over the first n stages,

L0xo + Vn + 1 yn +1 = Lnxn + V1 y1

Solving for yn +1,

Ln x n V1y 1 L0 x0
yn 1 Operating Line
Vn 1 Vn 1

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 Countercurrent contact with immiscible streams

• An important case in which the solute A is being transferred occurs when

the solvent stream V contains components A and B with no C and solvent
stream L contains A and C with no B.

y1 x0 Operating line
yN + 1
1
y2 x1 y4 4
2 Equilibrium line
y3 3
y3 x2
y2 2
3 y1 1

y4 x5 x0 x1 x2 x4
x3
N=4

xN Note: If the streams L and V are dilute in key

yN + 1
species, the operating line is a straight line

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 Analytical Equations for Countercurrent Stage
Contact (Kremser Equation)

• When the flow rates V and L in a countercurrent

process are essentially constant, the operating line
equation becomes straight

• If the equilibrium line is also a straight line over the

concentration range, simplified analytical expressions
can be derived for number of equilibrium stages in a
countercurrent stage process

Overall component balance on component A:

L0xo + Vn + 1 yn +1 = Lnxn + V1 y1

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Rearranging,

LNxN - VN + 1 y N + 1 = Loxo - V1y1

Component balance for A on the first n stages,

L0xo + Vn + 1 yn +1 = Lnxn + V1 y1

Rearranging,
Loxo - V1y1 = Lnxn - Vn + 1y n+1

Thus,

LNxN - VN + 1 y N + 1 = Lnxn - Vn + 1y n+1

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Since the molar flows are constant, Ln = LN =
constant = L and Vn+1= VN+1 = constant = V.

L (xn - xN) = V(yn+1 - yN+1) (A)

Since yn + 1 and xn + 1 are in equilibrium and the equilibrium

line is straight, yn + 1 = mxn + 1. Also, yN + 1 = mxN + 1

Substituting mxn + 1 for yn + 1 and calling A = L/mV,

yN 1 (B)
xn 1 Ax n AxN
m

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 For transfer of solute A from phase V to L (absorption)

y N 1 y1 AN 1 A
y N 1 mx0 AN 1 1

y N 1 mx0 1 1
ln 1
y1 mx0 A A
N
ln A
When A = 1,

y N 1 y1
N
y 1 mx0

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Solving (B),

For transfer of solute A from phase L to V (stripping),

xo xN (1/ A)N 1 (1/ A)
xo ( y N 1 / m ) (1/ A)N 1 1

x0 yN 1 / m
ln (1 A) A
xN yN 1 / m
N
ln(1/ A)

When A =1,
x0 xN
N
xN yN 1 / m
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If equilibrium line is not straight,

LN L0
A A NA1 where AN and A1
mN VN 1 m1V1

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 Example: Number of stages by analytical equation

It is desired to absorb 90% of the acetone in a gas containing 1.0 mol%

acetone in air in a countercurrent stage tower. The total inlet gas flow to the
tower is 30.0 kg mol/h, and the total inlet pure water flow to be used to
absorb the acetone is 90 kg mol H2O/h. The process is to operate
isothermally at 300K and a total pressure of 101.3 kPa. The equilibrium
relation for the acetone in the gas-liquid is yA = 1.5 xA. Determine the
number of theoretical stages required for this separation by graphical
method and compare it with Kremser equation.
Estimate the minimum solvent ratio for the process.
If 2 times of minimum solvent is used estimate the number of theoretical
stages required.

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 Problem - 1&
A gas mixture of air and CO2 is contacted in a multi stage mixer
with pure water at atmospheric conditions. The exit gas and liquid
streams are in equilibrium. The inlet gas and liquid flow rate are
100 kg/h and 300 kg/h respectively. The entering gas contains 0.2
mole fraction of CO2. If 90 % of CO2 is observed, Calculate the
composition of the leaving liquid and suggest the coordinates of
the operating line. Estimate the number of stages required for the
absorption.

Assume the equilibrium relation is y = 2.52x. Estimate the number

of stages required if, 1.5 times of minimum solvent is required..

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An adsorption oil containing 0.12 moles of benzene per mole of
benzene free oil is to be stripped by using a superheated steam
at 121.1oC and at 1 atmospheric pressure. For every 200 kgmol
of benzene free oil, 100 kgmol of pure steam was used. The
outlet concentration of oil should not exceed 0.005 mol of
benzene per mole of benzene free oil. Estimate the number of
theoretical stages required for the stripping process. The
equilibrium data are given below:

X’ 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.13

Y’ 0.07 0.13 0.22 0.30 0.40 0.51 0.58

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 Solution:
V1 = 29.73 kg mol/h, yA1 = 0.00101, L0 = 90.0 and xA0 = 0.

Thus,
A1 = L/mV = L0/mV1 = 90.0 / (2.53 x 29.73) = 1.20

At stage N, VN + 1 = 30.0, yAN +1 = 0.01, LN = 90.27, and xAN = 0.00300

Thus,
AN = LN/mVN + 1 = 90.27/(2.53 x 30.0) = 1.19

The geometric average, A = (A1AN)1/2 = (1.20x1.19)1/2 = 1.195

For absorption and by using kremser equation,

0.01 2.53(0) 1 1
ln 1
0.00101 2.53(0) 1.195 1.195
N 5.04 stages
ln (1.195)

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 Graphical Equilibrium-Stage Method for Trayed
Towers
• Consider the countercurrent-flow, trayed tower for
absorption (or stripping) operating under isobaric,
isothermal, continuous, steady-state flow conditions

• Phase equilibrium is assumed to be achieved at

each tray between the vapor and liquid streams
leaving the tray. ====> equilibrium stage

• Assume that the only component transferred from

one phase to the other is the solute,

• For application to an absorber, let:

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L’ = molar flow rate of solute-free absorbent

G’ = molar flow rate of solute-free gas (carrier gas)

X = mole fraction of solute to solute-free absorbent in the

liquid

Y = mole ratio of solute to solute-free gas in the vapor

Note that with these definitions, values of L’ and G’ remain constant

through the tower, assuming no vaporization of absorbent into carrier gas
or absorption of carrier gas by liquid. For the solute at any equilibrium
stage, n,

yn Yn / 1 Yn
Kn
xn Xn / 1 Xn
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O.P: YN + 1 = Xn(L’/G’)+ Y1 - X0(L’/G’) Yn = Xn + 1(L’/G’) + Y0 - X1(L’/G’)
X0,L’ Y1,G’
XN + 1,L’ YN,G’

1
1

n
n
N
N

YN+1,G’ XN,L’
Y0,G’ X1,L’

(bottom) Equilibrium curve

top
Operating line

Operating line

(top)
Equilibrium curve bottom

absorber Dr.T.M
Stripper 41
 Minimum Absorbent Flow Rate
YN + 1 (gas in)

X0 Y1

solute-free gas, Y
Moles solute/mole

Operating line 1
1

YN + 1 XN

Y1
(gas out)

Moles solute/mole solute-free liquid, X XN

(for Lmin)
X0

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Consider, for n = N

X0L’ + YN + 1G’ = XNL’ + Y1G’

or
G' YN 1 Y1
L'
XN X0 (C)

For stage N, for the minimum absorbent rate,

YN 1 / 1 YN 1
KN (D)
XN / 1 XN

Solving for XN in (D) and substituting it into (C) gives

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 ' G' YN 1 Y1 (E)
Lmin
YN 1 / YN 1 K N 1 K N X0

For dilute solution, where Y  y and X  x, (E) becomes

yN 1 y1
L'min G'
yN 1
x0
KN

If the entering liquid contains no solute, that is, X0  0

L’min = G’KN(fraction of solute absorbed)

For Stripper,
L'
G'min fraction of solute stripped
KN
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 Number of Equilibrium Stages
X0’ Y1’ XN + 1, YN,

1 N

N 1

Y0, X1,
YN+1 XN YN
YN + 1

Stage 1
(bottom)

Y1
Stage 1 Y0
(top)

x0 xN
Dr.T.M x1 45 xN + 1
Example:
When molasses is fermented to produce a liqour
containing ethyl alcohol, a CO2-rich vapour containing
a small amount of ethyl alcohol is evolved. The alcohol
can be recovered by absorption with water in a sieve-
tray tower. For the following conditions, determine the
number of equilibrium stages required countercurrent
flow of liquid and gas.K-value=0.57. Given
L/V=1.5(L/V)min . State your assumption.
Entering gas: 180 kmol/h; 98% CO2, 2% ethyl alcohol,
Entering liquid absorbent:100% water.
Required recovery of ethyl alcohol:97%

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Packed absorption tower design

Packed-tower performance is often analysed on the

basis of equivalent equilibrium stages using packing
Height Equivalent to a Theoretical (equilibrium ) Plate
(staged),
Packed height ( z ) z
HETP
Number of equivalent equilibrium stages ( N t ) Nt

z H OG N OG

where HOG is the overall Height Transfer Unit (HTU) and

NOG is the overall Number of Transfer Unit (NTU)

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HOG , Height Transfer Unit (HTU)

H OG
V V; average liquid flow rate
Ky 'a S Ky’; Overall transfer coefficient
a: area for mass trasfer per unit volume of
packed bed,
S; cross sectional area of the tower

NOG , Number of Transfer Unit (NTU)

A 1 yin Kxin 1
ln
A yout Kxin A
N OG
A 1
A
K ; equilibrium ratio
A, absorption factor = L/KV

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Example:
When molasses is fermented to produce a liqour
containing ethyl alcohol, a CO2-rich vapour containing
a small amount of ethyl alcohol is evolved. The alcohol
can be recovered by absorption with water in a packed
tower. The tower is packed with 1.5in metal Pall rings.
K-value=0.57. Given L/V=1.5(L/V)min . If HOG = 2.0 ft,
determine the required packed height.
Entering gas: 180 kmol/h; 98% CO2, 2% ethyl alcohol,
Entering liquid absorbent:100% water.
Required recovery of ethyl alcohol:97%

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b. A tray tower is used to absorb SO2 from an air stream by using pure water at 25oC.
The entering gas contains 20 mole percent of SO2. The tower is designed to absorb
90% of SO2. The flow rate of pure air is 150 kg/h.m2. The entering water flow
rate is 6000 kg water/h.m2. The equilibrium data are on solute free basis are given below
Equilibrium data for SO2 - water
Mole fraction of SO2 Mole fraction of SO2
in water, X in vapour, Y

0.00000 0.00000

0.00150 0.03420

0.00200 0.05140

0.00280 0.07750

0.00420 0.12140

0.00700 0.21200

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i. Estimate the concentration of SO2 in the exit water leaving the
tower.

ii.i. Estimate the number of theoretical stages required for the

desired absorption.

iii. If the overall efficiency of the tower is 40%, how many number
of actual stages are required.
I

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Since the equilibrium data are given in molar units, calculate the molar flow rates

V’ = 150/29 = 5.18 Kg mol inert air/m2 h

y1 x0
L’ = 6000/18.0 = 333 Kg mol inert water/ m2 h

Y N+1 = 0.20; Y1 = 0.02 1

y2 x1
X0 = 0; XN = ????
2
substituting into the material balance equation y3 x2

0 0.20 xN 0.02 3
333 5.18 333 5.18
1 0 1 0.20 1 xN 1 0.02
y4 x5

XN = ----------- ???? N=4

yN + 1 xN

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 Operating line
yN + 1

y4 4
Equilibrium line
y3 3

y2 2
y1 1

x0 x1 x2 x3 xN

Number of theoretical trays = 2.4

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 Packed Tower Design
Acetone is being absorbed by water in a packed
tower having a cross-sectional area of 0.186m2
at 293 K and 101.32 kPa. The inlet air contains
2.6 mol% acetone and outlet 0.5 mol%. The
gas flow is 13.65 kgmol air/h. The pure water
flow is 45.36 kgmol/h. Film coefficients for the
given flows in the tower are k’ya = 3.78x10-2
kgmol/s.m3.mol frac and k’xa = 6.16x10-2.
Calculate packing height, z. The equilibrium
relation is given by y = 1.186x.

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 Packed Tower Design
V
Solution: First calc HOG  H OG
Ky 'a S
V' 13.65/3600
V1 3.892 x 10 -3 kgmol/s
1 y1 1 0.026

V' 13.65/3600
V2 3.811 x 10 -3 kgmol/s
1 y2 1 0.005

Vav = (V1 + V2)/2 = 3.852 x 10-3 kg mol/s

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 Packed Tower Design
V
Solution: First calc HOG  H OG
Ky 'a S
1 1 m 1 1.186
45.7
K' y a k' y a k' x a 3.78 x 10 -2 6.16 x 10 -2
m is from y = mx = 1.186x relation established

K’ya = 2.19 x 10-2 kgmol/s.m3.mol frac

So,
HOG = 3.852 x 10-3/(2.19 x 10-2 x 0.186) = 0.947 m

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 Packed Tower Design
Solution: Next calc NOG :
1 1 yin mxin 1
NOG ln 1
ln A A yout mxin A

A = L/mV = (45.36/3600)/(1.186)(3.852x10-3)
= 2.758
1 1 0.026 1.186 x0 1
N OG ln 1
ln 2.758 2.758 0.005 1.186 x0 2.758

NOG = 1.28 transfer units

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 Packed Tower Design
Solution:
z H OG NOG
NOG = 1.28 transfer units
HOG = 0.947 m
So,
z = 0.947 x 2.043 = 1.935 m

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 Problem - 1 (Assignment)

A tray tower is used to absorb the ethanol vapors from an inert gas
stream using pure water at 30oC and atmospheric pressure. The
concentration of ethanol vapors in the gas stream is 2.2 mol %.
The gas stream flow rate is 100.Kg mol/h. It is desired to recover
90% of the alcohol. The equilibrium relation is Y* = 0.68 X. If
1.5 times of the minimum water flow rate is used, estimate the
number of theoretical stages required for the absorption. Calculate
the number of stages using kremser’s equation.

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 Problem - 2 (Assignment)

A hydrocarbon oil containing 4.0 mol % propane is being

stripped by direct superheated steam in a tower to reduce the
propane content to 0.2 mol %. A total of 11.42 kg mol of direct
steam is used for 300 kgmol of entering liquid. An equilibrium
relation of Y = 25x may be assumed. Steam can be considered
as an inert gas and will not condense. Find out the number of
theoretical stages needed for the operation

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Problem- 3
When molasses is fermented to produce a liqour
containing ethyl alcohol, a CO2-rich vapour containing
a small amount of ethyl alcohol is evolved. The alcohol
can be recovered by absorption with water in a sieve-
tray tower. For the following conditions, determine the
number of equilibrium stages required countercurrent
flow of liquid and gas.K-value=0.57. Given
L/V=1.5(L/V)min . State your assumption.
Entering gas: 180 kmol/h; 98% CO2, 2% ethyl alcohol,
Entering liquid absorbent:100% water.
Required recovery of ethyl alcohol:97%

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