ABSORPTION

Basic Concepts
• In absorption, there is a transfer of one or more species
from the gas phase to a liquid solvent.

• The species transferred to the liquid phase are referred

to as solutes or absorbate.

• Absorption involves no change in the chemical species

present in the system.

• Absorption is used to separate gas mixtures, remove

impurities, or recover valuable chemicals.

• In stripping (desorption), a liquid mixture is contacted

with a gas to selectively remove components by mass
transfer from the liquid to the gas phase.
Industrial Equipment for Absorption and Stripping

a) b)

a) Trayed tower
b) Packed column
c) Spray tower
d) Bubble column

c) d)
GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

• Entering gas flow rate, composition, T and P

• Desired degree of recovery of one or more solutes
• Choice of absorbent, operating P and T, and
allowable gas pressure drop
• Type of absorption equipment
• Minimum and actual absorbent flow rate
• Number or equilibrium stages and stage efficiency
• Height of absorption equipment
• Diameter of absorption equipment
 Ideal absorbent
• High solubility for the solute
• Low volatility to reduce loss
• Stability and inertness
• Low corrosiveness
• Low viscosity and high diffusivity
• Low foaming proclivities
• Low toxicity and flammability
• Availability
• Low cost

Most widely used: water, hydrocarbon oils, and

aqueous solutions of acids and bases.
Graphical Method for Trayed Towers
• Phase equilibrium is assumed between the vapor
and liquid leaving each tray.
Assume: Only
solute is
transferred from
one phase to the
other.

Assume: No
vaporization of
absorbent into
carrier gas or
absorption of
carrier gas by
liquid.
 Equilibrium Curves
• K-value is:
Operating Lines
Operating Lines
 Minimum Absorbent Flow Rate
Corresponds to a value of XN in equilibrium with YN+1

for n=N

Solving for XN and substituting into L’

For dilute solutes, If, for the entering liquid, X00

A similar derivation of V’min:

Number of Equilibrium Stages
 Ejemplo 1
El 95 % del vapor de acetona, contenida en una
corriente gaseosa con 85 % molar de aire, ha de
absorberse por contacto en contracorriente con
agua pura en una columna de platos. La columna
operará esencialmente a 20ºC y 101 kPa. Los datos
de equilibrio para acetona-agua en estas
condiciones son:

% mol de acetona en agua 3.30 7.20 11.7 17.1

Presión parcial de acetona en 30.0 62.8 85.4 103.0
aire, torr
Determine:

a) El valor mínimo de L’/V’, la relación de moles de

agua por mol de aire.

b) El número de etapas de equilibrio que se requieren

utilizando un valor de L’/V’ 1.25 veces el valor mínimo.

c) La concentración de acetona en la corriente de

agua a la salida.
 Example 2
A solute A is to be recovered from an inert
carrier gas B by absorption into a solvent. The
gas entering into the absorber flows at a rate
of 500 kmol/h with yA=0.3 and leaving the
absorbet with yA=0.01. Solvent enters the
absorber at the rate of 1500 kmol/h with xA=
0.001. The equilibrium relationship is yA=2.8xA.
The carrier gas may be considered insoluble in
the solvent and the solvent may be
considered nonvolatile. Construct the x-y plot
for the equilibrium and operating lines, and
determine the equilibrium stages.
 Example 3
It is desired to absorb 95 % of acetone by
water from a mixture of acetone and nitrogen
containing 1.5 % of the component in a
countercurrent tray tower. Total gas input is 30
kmol/h and water enters the tower at a rate of
90 kmol/h. The tower operates at 27 ºC and 1
atm. The equilibrium relation is y=2.53x.
Determine the number of ideal stages
necessary for the separation using a graphical
method.
 Recovery of Alcohol
In a bioprocess, molasses is fermented to produce a liquor
containing ethyl alcohol. A CO2-rich vapor with a small
amount of ethyl alcohol is evolved. The alcohol is
recovered by absorption with water in a sieve-tray tower.
Determine the number of equilibrium stages required for
countercurrent flow of liquid and gas, assuming isothermal,
isobaric conditions and that only alcohol is absorbed.

Entering gas is 180 kmol/h; 98 % CO2; 2% ethyl alcohol;

30ºC, 110 kPa.
Entering liquid absorbent is 100 % water; 30ºC, 110 kPa.
Required recovery of ethyl alcohol is 97 %.
Use the following equilibrium equation Y = 0.57X / (1 +
0.43X), donde las composiciones son libre de soluto.