1

Gas Absorption Mass Balance Experimental Report

Casi Santos

Note
This paper was prepared for CHE 200, taught by Professor

INTRODUCTION

In absorption, a soluble vapor is absorbed from its mixture with an inert gas by means of
a liquid in which the solute gas is more or less soluble (McCabe, 2005). Those species
transferred to a liquid are called solutes. There is no change in the chemical structure of the
species witch is present in the system. The mains objective of absorption experiment is to
separate gas mixtures and separate impurities. Nowadays, the oceans have absorbed vast
amounts of carbon dioxide which forms carbon dioxide. It has reduced the natural alkalinity of
oceans water interfering in the habitat of the corals (Revkin, 2004). Therefore, absorption is
fundamental to solve this problem. The process which the solute is separated from the solvent is
called stripping. Normally, absorption is not one hundred percent accurate, even more when it is
due into water stream. Usually, the separation between water and any solute is due by distillation.
The objective of this experiment is to understand the gas absorption operation, to know how
absorption equipment is designed, and to perform mass balances for an absorber to determine the
amount of CO2 absorbed by the water stream to determine the accuracy of the CO2 meter. The
machine consists of a column with air, CO2 and water flow rate inlet and a distribution spaces at
the bottom. Also, this procedure contains a digital CO2 meter to check the flow rates. Three run
is done to guarantee the accuracy of the experiment. The apparatus consists of columns showing
the amount of gas or liquid inlet on the reader. However, the units used are not equivalent.
Therefore, to facility the calculus it is necessary to convert those units to ones that match to each
other. Also, it is necessary to calibrate the system before the experiment. Gas velocity,
temperature of the stream and pressure are some factors which must be determinate.

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS AND PROCEDURE

EQUIPMENT
-

CO2 Gas cylinder

Packed absorption column
Plate tower
Bubble Columns

PROCEDURE
-

Make sure that the apparatus is calibrated.

Fill 1/10 the packed tower with water.
Make sure that the CO2 is connected to the inlet space.
Increase the water stream until it reaches 6 L/min.
Increase the air stream (Use a low value for the first run)
Use CO2 fixed at around 5% (v/v)
Keeping the system running for some minutes.
Check the flow rates pushing a digital CO2 meter button.
Repeat the procedure two more times.
Fix the value of 6L/min to the water flow rate.
Use different values of CO2 and air flow rates.

PRESENTATION OF RESULTS

Water Flow
Rate (L/min)

CO2 expected
at 5%(v/v)

CO2 Flow
Rate (L/min)

Air Flow
Rate(ft3/min)

CO2 in (%)

CO2 out (%)

4.5

2.5

5.08

4.60

6.8

4.0

5.04

4.70

7.9

5.4

5.03

4.94

Tab1.

Column data and result for CO2 Absorption from air using water.

Conversion of units:
-1 m3 = 264.17 gallons
-1m3 = 1000L
-1 ft3= 28.3168 L
-1 mol = 22.4 L

Water Flow
Rate (mol/min)

CO2 expected
at 5%(v/v)

Air Flow
Rate(mol/min
)
3.16

CO2 in (%)

CO2 out (%)

CO2 Flow
Rate
(mol/min)
0.20

0.26

5.08

4.60

0.26

0.30

5.05

5.04

4.70

0.26

0.35

6.82

5.03

4.94

Tab 2: Column data and result for CO2 absorption from air using water in (mol/min) unit.

DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
APPENDICE

1.

x3 mol CO2/mol
n3 mol/ min

3.36 mol/mol air

n1 mol/min

n2 mol/min

0.21 mol O2 /mol

0.0508 mol CO2/mol

0.0460 mol CO2/mol

0.79 mol N2/mol

x1 mol O2/ mol

x2 mol O2/mol

1-0.0508-x1 mol N2/mol

0.20 mol CO2/min

1-0.0460- x2 mol N2/mol

0.26 mol H2O/min

Figure 1: Absorption column with values obtained and unknown variables.

Calculus
1.

Conversion of units:

Water stream:
(6L/min) x (1 mol/22.4L) = 0.26 mol/min
Air flow rate (first run):
(2.5 ft3/min) x (28.3168L/ft3) x (1 mol/ 22.4L) = 3.16 mol/min
CO2 flow:

(4.5L/min) x (1 mol/22.4L) = 0.20 mol/min

2. Find n1, n2, n3, x1, x2, x3