ABSO RPTI O N AND STRI PPI NG

Marc Mate
 Introduction to Absorption Processes
 Solubility of Gases
 Gas-liquid Mass Tranfer Equipment
 INTRODUCTION TO
ABSORPTION/STRIPPING PROCESSES
Principle of absorption processes

Gas Solute Liquid

Absorption

Stripping
Liquid-to-gas flow rate ratio is considerably
larger in absorption compared to distillation
Typical applications of absorption

Chemical
absorption
Gas Solubilities

The solubilities of gases in

liquids in which they are
sparingly soluble are given in
terms of Henry's Law constant
H.

Henry's Law states simply that

the solubility of a gas in a
liquid is directly proportional
to its partial pressure in the gas
phase.
Gas Solubilities

H is dependent on temperature but

relatively independent of system
pressure at moderate pressure levels for
systems where Henry's Law applies.

Solubilities of various gases in water

expressed as the reciprocal of the Henry's
Law constant. Valid for pressures of 5 atm
(500 kPa) or less.
Gas Solubilities

The data follows Henry’s

law up to a concentration,
xA = 0.005, where H= 29.6
atm.

Equilibrium plot for SO2 – H2O plot @ 293K

m- parameter
GAS-LIQUID MASS TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer Equipment
Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer Equipment

Gas cleaning
High Low
efficiency efficiency

Spray
drying

Packings:
 low p,
 narrow operating window
Packed Columns vs Tray Columns
 Packed Columns
 Preferred for small diameter columns (d<0.6m) and
when p and holdup are important ( vacuum
operations, fouling due to reactions)
 Higher efficiency than trays (shorter columns)
 Narrower operating window, bad if feed contains
particles and if large variations in T and P
 Expensive for large columns
 Packed Columns
 Preferred for small diameter columns (d<0.6m) and
when p and holdup are important ( vacuum
1 operations, fouling due to reactions)
 Higher efficiency than trays (shorter columns)
 Narrower operating window, bad if feed contains
particles and if large variations in T and P
 Expensive for large columns
1) Structured packings
 Packed Columns
 Preferred for small diameter columns (d<0.6m) and
when p and holdup are important ( vacuum
1 operations, fouling due to reactions)
 Higher efficiency than trays (shorter columns)
 Narrower operating window, bad if feed contains
particles and if large variations in T and P
 Expensive for large columns

2 1) Structured packings 2) Random packings

3a
Packed Columns
 Preferred for small diameter columns (d<0.6m) and
when p and holdup are important ( vacuum
1 operations, fouling due to reactions)
 Higher efficiency than trays (shorter columns)
 Narrower operating window, bad if feed contains
3b particles and if large variations in T and P
 Expensive for large columns

2 1) Structured packings 2) Random packings

3) Column
internals
a) liquid
distributor
b) Liquid
collector
Random Packings
 Many different types of particles
 Materials: metal, plastic, ceramics
 Sizes: 10 – 100 mm
 Particle size must not exceed 5 – 10 % of
column diameter [1]
 Bed porosity: 70% (ceramic particles) to 95-
98% (metal particles [2])
 Surface area: 50 to 300 m2/(m3 packing)
 Typical problem: non-homogenous bed leads
to non-uniform liquid distribution
 Efficieny: 1 – 2 equilibrium stages per meter
packing height
[1] Mersmann, Kind, Stichlmair (2011), [2] Sulzer Chemtech (2011)
Picture: Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies
Types of Random Packings

Source: J. Mackowiak, Fluid Dynamics in Packed Columns, Springer (2010)

 Types of Random Packings
Raschig Pall rings
ring

Source: S. Hall, Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers, Elsevier (2012)

Source: J. Mackowiak, Fluid Dynamics in Packed Columns, Springer (2010)

Source: J. Mackowiak, Fluid Dynamics in Packed Columns, Springer (2010)
 Types of Random Packings
Raschig Pall rings
ring

Saddles

Source: J. Mackowiak, Fluid Dynamics in Packed Columns, Springer (2010)

Source: S. Hall, Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers, Elsevier (2012)
 Types of Random Packings
Raschig Pall rings
ring

Saddles

High
performace
packings
Structured Packings
 Popular since no problems with non-homo-
geneous beds, better liquid distribution [1]
 Materials: metals, plastic, carbon [2]
 Bed porosity: > 95 %
 Specific surface area: > 250m2/m3
 Lower pressure drop and better efficiency
than random packings
 Pressure drop:  0.5 mbar per equilib stage
 Efficiency: 2-4 equilib stages per meter
packing height

[1] Mersmann, Kind, Stichlmair (2011), [2] Sulzer Chemtech (2010)

Pictures: (top) Finepac Structures PVT (bottom) Euroslot Industrie
 Column Internals
 Bed height limited to 6 – 8 m
 Between each bed, liquid is collected, mixed
and redistributed to suppress maldistribution
 Liquid distributors and collectors narrow the
operation window even further

Perspective view of a
packed distillation column
with structured packings
a) Liquid distributor
b) Liquid collector
c) Structured packing
d) Support grid
e) Man way
f) Liquid re-distrubtor
Source: Mersmann, Kind, Stichlmair (2011),
Pictures: (left) Mersmann, Kind, Stichlmair (2011), (right) Rashig-Jaeger
 Comparison of Packings
Packed Columns

Raschig rings ”Through flow” Structured

and saddles
Relative cost Low Moderate High
Pressure drop Moderate Low Very low
Efficiency Moderate High Very high
Vapor capacity Fairly high High High
Turndown ratio 2 2 2
(max/min vapor capacity)

Source: Hyper-TVT, ETH Zurich , H. Z. Kister, Distillation Design (1992

 Comparison of Packings
Packed Columns

Raschig rings ”Through flow” Structured

and saddles
Relative cost Low Moderate High
Pressure drop Moderate Low Very low
Efficiency Moderate High Very high
Vapor capacity Fairly high High High
Turndown ratio 2 2 2
(max/min vapor capacity)

Turndown ratio: Tray Columns

ratio between the
Sieve Valve Bubble-cap
maximum and the
minimum vapor flow Turndown ratio 2 4-5 ”excellent”

Source: Hyper-TVT, ETH Zurich , H. Z. Kister, Distillation Design (1992

 Selection of Solvent (Absorbent)
• Gas Solubility- High solubility of a gas in the solvent is
preferred and it should not dissolve carrier gas. If chemical
reaction takes place between solute and solvent, rate of
absorption is extremely high. But the reaction should be
reversible to recover solvent during desorption.

• Volatility- Low volatility or low vapor pressure of the

solvent enhances the adsorption operation as solvent loss
with carrier gas is very small.

• Viscosity- Greater amount of power is required for high

viscous solvent and flooding is also caused at lower liquid
and gas flow rates.
 Selection of Solvent (Absorbent)

• Corrosiveness- Non-corrosive or less corrosive solvent.

• Cost- The solvent should be cheap.

• Toxicity and Hazard- The solvent should be non-toxic,

nonflammable, non-hazardous and should be chemically
stable.

For stripping, an inert gas must be selected. Steam is usually

used for this purpose as, it is easy to condense and separate
from solute gas at the outlet.