THE

COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING

NAME : NTEYE CHITONGE

SIN :17110693

PROGRAM : BEng CHEMICAL 4.

TASK : LAB REPORT 6.

COURSE : CE 430

LECTUERE : MR MUGALA
TITLE: GAS ABSORPTION-VALIDATION OF LIQUID PHASE ANALYSIS
AIM:
To analyze the composition of ammonia (NH3) in air by
• Acid-base titration of the liquid phase.
• Specific gravity method.

ABSTRACT:
This lab was focused on analyzing the composition of ammonia by acid-base titration as well specific
gravity method in gas absorption. The analysis commenced with plotting of graphs and comparing the
compositions from the 2 formulas with dilution factor. It was then concluded that the specific gravity
formula yielded results faster hence it is recommended for analysis.

1. INTRODUCTION
Gas absorption is mass transfer operation where one or more species is removed from a gaseous
stream by dissolution in a liquid. The component that is extracted from the gaseous stream is
known as solute and the component that extracting the solute is known as solvent. Packed
column is one of the commonly used gas absorption equipment. Packed column can be operated
in co-current as well as counter currently. Counter-current flow is preferable since the contact
time between the liquid and gas is greater. This equipment usually consists of a cylindrical
column containing a gas inlet and distributing space at the bottom, a liquid inlet and a packing or
filing in the tower. The packed column used in the experiment is SOLTEQ-QVF Absorption
ColumnBP751-B which used Raschig Rings as the packing’s medium. Air and water as the gas
and liquid, respectively. At low gas velocity, the pressure drop is proportional to the flow rate. At
loading point, the gas starts to hinder the liquid flow and accumulation occurs in the packings. At
the upper limit of the gas flow rate which is called flooding velocity, flooding occurs. The
operating packed column, in actual operating or industries should be well below flooding since
the equipment cannot operate above the flooding velocity. The pressure drop within the system
increases as the flow rate of the gas or liquid is increases. (Nurlina S, 2018)

2. THEORY
Gas absorption is mass transfer operation where one or more species is removed from a gaseous
stream by dissolution in a liquid. The component that is extracted from the gaseous stream is
known as solute and the component that extracting the solute is known as solvent. Carrier gas is
the insoluble component present in the gas that is not absorbed by the solvent. The transfers
based on the preferential solubility of solutes in the solvent. Packed towers are used for
continuous countercurrent contacting of gas and liquid in absorption (Geankoplis, 1993).The
mechanism in packed tower is the gas and liquid phases flows counter currently where they
interact on the packings interface. The liquid flows in downward direction, over the surface of
the packing, whereas the gas flows through the space or voids of the packings in upward
direction. The gas flow is driven by pressure while the liquid flow is driven by the gravity force.
The gas undergoes pressure drop due to the liquid occupied some part of the open space and
voids of the packing. Thus, reducing the area available for the gas to flow. If the packing is dry
with no liquid feed, then maximum flow gas is available. The pressure drops increases as the
liquid flowrate into the tower increases. High flux will be resulting in flooding. This occurrence
happens at the upper limit of the gas flow rate called flooding velocity since the liquid is blown
out with the gas at the flooding point. The gas start to hinder the liquid flow at loading point
where accumulation of liquid start appearing in the packing. Low flux will be resulting in
channeling or weeping. There are two types of packings types which is random and structured.

Chemical equation for Ammonium Hydroxide reacting with Hydrochloric Acid is written as;

NH4OH (aq) + HCL (aq) ↔ NH4CL (aq) + H2O (l)

According to the titration of ammonia and hydrochloric acid, the reaction is known as the
neutralization reaction of the weak base titrated by a strong acid as shown in the experimental
setup. Therefore, the neutralization reaction can be written as;
NH3 (aq) + HCL (aq) ↔ NH4CL (aq) + H2O (l)

Whose net ionic equation is; NH3 (aq) + H+ (aq) ↔ NH4+ (aq)
The equations shows that the reaction contains the same mole ratio which simply shows that the
reaction is a 1:1 reaction. The concentration of Ammonia (NH3) represented as ”M2”, in the equation
to be used below.

1. CONCENTRATION OF NH3 (M2 )

The concentration is found by;

𝑀1 𝑉1
= 𝑀2 ,
𝑉2
Equation 6-1

Where,

• 𝑀1 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶𝑙
• 𝑉1 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝐶𝑙
• 𝑉2 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 NH3

3. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE

3.1 Reagents
• Concentrated Ammonia solution (commercial grade).
• phenolphthalein indicator
• distilled water
• concentrated hydrochloric acid.

3.2 METHOD
Step 1: sample preparation
Sample 1
• 100ml of aliquot from the stock solution of ammonia (commercial grade) was
transferred and diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume in a 250ml volumetric
flask as sample 1.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 1 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 2.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 2 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 3.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 3 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 4.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 4 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 5.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 5 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 6.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 6 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 7.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 7 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 8.
• 100ml of aliquot from sample 8 was diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 by volume
in a 250ml volumetric as sample 9.

Procedure
a) Firstly, the concentrations of samples 3 and 9 were determined by titrating with
standard hydrochloric acid as shown in the experimental setup shown below.

(Nurlina S, 2018)

b) Secondly, the specific gravities of samples were measured using the hygrometer.
 Figure 2 (A.N. Mugala, 2021)

Step 2: Determination of ammonia concentration and specific gravity.

• The concentration of samples 3 and 9 were determined by acid-base titration with standard
HCL.
• Then the specific gravities of samples 3 and 9 were as well determined using a hygrometer.

4. DATA AND RESULTS

4.1 Data collected

Table 6-1 Titration of NH3 solution with 0.8456 M HCl solution

Volume of NH3 Volume of HCl

Sample Conc of NH3 Specific
solution used used
Number (mol/dm3) gravity
(cm3) (cm3)
1 62.8 20 0.976
2 31.0 20 0.987
3 16.3 20 0.992
4 15.5 20 0.995
5 7.8 20 0.996
6 4.1 20 0.996
7 4.5 20 0.997
8 2.3 20 0.996
9 1.1 20 0.99

4.2 Results
Table 6-2 calculated concentration of NH3
 Volume of NH3 Volume of HCl
Sample Conc of NH3 Specific
solution used used
Number (mol/dm3) gravity
(cm3) (cm3)
1 62.8 20 2.6552 0.976
2 31.0 20 1.3107 0.987
3 16.3 20 0.6892 0.992
4 15.5 20 0.6553 0.995
5 7.8 20 0.3298 0.996
6 4.1 20 0.1733 0.996
7 4.5 20 0.1903 0.997
8 2.3 20 0.0972 0.996
9 1.1 20 0.0465 0.99

Table 6.4: Dilution and specific gravity results.

Sample number Dilution(V/V) [NH3] (mol/dm3) Specific gravity

1 2.5 1.0312 0.976
2 6.25 0.41248 0.987
3 15.625 0.165 0.992
4 39.1 0.0659 0.995
5 97.66 0.0264 0.996
6 244.14 0.0106 0.996
7 610.35 0.0042 0.997
8 1525.9 0.00169 0.996
9 3814.7 0.000676 0.99

Table 6-4 shows concentration and dilution factor

Concentration 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512

(mol/L)
Dilution 0.2693 0.5455 1.0375 1.091 2.168 4.125 3.758 7.353 15.375
factor
Figure 6-1

Conc vs Dilution factor

18 y = 0.028x + 0.7878
16 R² = 0.9791
14
12
Conc(M)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
DF

Figure 6-2

sp.gravity vs dilution factor

1.005

1 y = 2E-05x + 0.9904
R² = 0.191
0.995
sp, gravity

0.99

0.985

0.98

0.975

0.97
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
DF

5. DISCUSSION
Exercise

1. The graphs are both exponential, and the graph of concentration vs. dilution, as shown in fig 6-
1, decreased exponentially as concentration decreased with increasing dilution. As shown in fig
 6-2, the graph of specific gravity vs dilution reveals that the specific gravity grew exponentially
as the dilution decreased. 2. The titration approach was shown to be effective.
2. When compared to the acid-base titration approach, which took longer, the specific gravity
method proved to be faster in producing findings.
3. Water-air mixture

6. RECOMMENDATIONS
• When handling caustic and polluting compounds like hydrochloric acid and ammonia, extreme
caution should be urged and followed at all times.

• When dealing with odorous products, adequate ventilation or gas masks must be used.

7. CONCLUSION
The content of ammonia (NH3) in air was shown to be decreasing with dilution, although specific gravity
rose with dilution. As a sample is diluted more and more, its density approaches that of the dilution
solvent, in this instance water, as evidenced by the values of S.G obtained, which neared 1.0. When a
result, as the amount of solvent in the sample increases, the composition of the solute in the sample
decreases. This was the result reached during an investigation using acid-base titration and the specific
gravity technique.

8. REFERENCES

• A.N. Mugala, P. C. &. J. M., 2021. ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LAB MANNUAL, kitwe:
THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY.

• Nurlina S, 2018. Academia. [Online]

Available at:
https://www.academia.edu/36855621/CHE504_Lab_Report_on_Gas_Absorption_L8_2018_
[Accessed 08 july 2021]

• J. H. Perry, Ed., Chemical Engineer's Handbook, 5th or 6th ed., p. 14.2 - 14.40, McGraw-Hill
Publishing Co., New York, NY, 1973.

9. APPENDIX

Calculating the Concentration of NH3

𝑀𝐻𝐶𝐿 𝑥𝑉𝐻𝐶𝐿
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 =
𝑉𝑁𝐻3
Where:

MNH3 is the concentration of NH3

MHCL is the concentration of HCL

VNH3 is the volume of NH3

VHCL is the volume of HCL

Sample number 1

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟔𝟗𝟑
62.8
Sample number 2

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟒𝟓𝟓
31.0
Sample number 3

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟓
16.3
Sample number 4

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟏𝟏
15.5
Sample number 5

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔𝟖𝟐
7.8
Sample number 6

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟐𝟒𝟗
4.1
Sample number 7

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟑. 𝟕𝟓𝟖𝟐
4.5
Sample number 8

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟕. 𝟑𝟓𝟑𝟎𝟒
2.3
 Sample number 9

0.8456𝑥20
𝑀𝑁𝐻3 = = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟑𝟕𝟒𝟓
1.1

Dilution is a V/V ratio expressed as dilution factor as given below;

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑁𝐻3 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Dilution factor =
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝐻3 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

SOLUTION 1
2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
1.338 𝑀

Dilution factor = 2

SOLUTION 2

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.669 𝑀

Dilution factor = 4

SOLUTION 3

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.3345 𝑀

Dilution factor = 8

SOLUTION 4

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.16725 𝑀

Dilution factor = 16

SOLUTION 5
 2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.083625 𝑀

Dilution factor = 32

SOLUTION 6

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.0418125 𝑀

Dilution factor = 64

SOLUTION 7

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.02090625 𝑀

Dilution factor = 128

SOLUTION 8

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.0104531 𝑀

Dilution factor = 256

SOLUTION 9

2.676 𝑀
Dilution factor =
0.0052266 𝑀

Dilution factor = 512