UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09

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TITLE OF EXPERIMENT
Gas Absorption
OBJECTIVE(S)
The objective of this experiment is to determine the mass transfer coefficient
of oxygen

through wetted wall absorption column.

INTRODUCTION
Gas absorption (also known as scrubbing) is an operation in which a gas
mixture is contacted with a liquid for the purpose of preferentially dissolving one or
more components of the gas mixture and to provide a solution of them in the liquid.
Therefore we can see that there is a mass transfer of the component of the gas from
the gas phase to the liquid phase. The solute so transferred is said to be absorbed by
the liquid. In gas desorption (or stripping), the mass transfer is in the opposite
direction, i.e. from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
The principles for both systems are the same. The process of gas absorption
involves the diffusion of solute from the gas phase through a stagnant or non-
diffusing liquid. Absorption can be either physical or chemical. In physical
absorption, the gas is removed because it has greater solubility in the solvent than
other gases. In chemical absorption, the gas to be removed reacts with the solvent
and remains in solution. For irreversible reactions, the resulting liquid must be
disposed of, whereas in reversible reactions, the solvent can be regenerated. Thus,
reversible reactions are often preferred. Chemical absorption usually has a much
more favourable equilibrium relationship than physical absorption (solubility of most
gases is usually very low) and is, therefore, preferred. Both absorption and stripping
can be operated as equilibrium stage operations with contact of liquid and vapour. In
both absorption and stripping a separate phase is added as the separating agent.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Deoxygenated water
Nitrogen gas, N
2

Oxygen gas, O
2

UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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Wetted-wall absorption column
Stop watch

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS
Information given:
Column diameter
Column height
Wetted perimeter
Gas- liquid interface area

Oxygen diffusivity

Theoretically,

[ (

)

An Excel spread sheet is attached with the complete results table.

ResultsTabulationForGasAbsorption
informationgiven
TimeInterval 5 min
Columndiameter 34.00 mm
Concentration mg/L Columnheight 90.00 cm
wettedperimeter 10.68 cm
Gas Water 1st 2nd 3rd Average 1st 2nd 3rd Average Gasliquidinterfacearea 960.80 cm^2
4 0.25 0.21 0.19 0.22 5.61 5.30 5.33 5.41 oxygendiffusivity 2.5000E05 m^2/s
6 0.20 0.08 0.07 0.12 5.43 5.43 5.59 5.48
8 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.07 5.80 5.66 5.71 5.72
10 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 5.96 5.97 5.99 5.97
4 0.05 0.04 0.13 0.07 5.80 5.70 5.62 5.71
6 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.05 5.53 5.61 5.50 5.55
8 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 5.59 5.33 5.57 5.50
10 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.04 5.75 5.79 5.81 5.78
4 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 5.44 5.50 5.17 5.37
6 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.06 5.20 5.42 5.36 5.33
8 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.05 5.40 5.30 5.46 5.39
10 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 5.75 5.87 5.84 5.82
Temperature degC
Gas Water 1st 2nd 3rd Average 1st 2nd 3rd Average
4 31.80 32.60 30.60 31.67 30.10 30.60 31.20 30.63
6 34.20 34.60 34.80 34.53 31.60 32.10 32.40 32.03
8 35.00 34.70 34.60 34.77 32.70 32.90 32.90 32.83
10 34.40 34.30 34.10 34.27 32.90 32.90 32.80 32.87
4 33.90 33.70 34.60 34.07 32.40 32.10 32.00 32.17
6 34.70 35.30 35.50 35.17 32.20 32.90 33.10 32.73
8 36.90 35.90 35.80 36.20 33.40 33.80 33.70 33.63
10 35.60 35.30 35.20 35.37 33.80 33.80 33.70 33.77
4 34.90 34.60 34.80 34.77 33.40 32.90 32.80 33.03
6 35.60 36.00 35.80 35.80 32.90 33.50 33.60 33.33
8 36.00 36.00 35.90 35.97 33.70 34.00 33.90 33.87
10 35.70 35.50 35.40 35.53 33.90 33.80 33.70 33.80
Flowrate(L/h)
Flowrate(L/h) AI1 AI2
AI2 AI1
100
80
60
100
60
80
Taverage viscosity density wettingrate Re LMCD
Gas Water in out degC cm^2/s g/cm^3 cm^2/s C_i C_o
4 7.29 7.40 31.15 0.0077 0.9949 0.1040 13.36 7.08 1.99 4.0076
6 7.03 7.25 33.28 0.0074 0.9942 0.1561 21.05 6.91 1.77 3.7766
8 7.01 7.18 33.80 0.0073 0.9941 0.2081 28.39 6.95 1.45 3.5123
10 7.05 7.17 33.57 0.0073 0.9941 0.2601 35.30 7.00 1.20 3.2910
4 7.07 7.24 33.12 0.0074 0.9943 0.1040 13.98 7.00 1.54 3.6003
6 6.98 7.19 33.95 0.0073 0.9940 0.1561 21.37 6.94 1.64 3.6729
8 6.91 7.11 34.92 0.0071 0.9937 0.2081 29.11 6.87 1.61 3.6242
10 6.97 7.09 34.57 0.0072 0.9938 0.2601 36.10 6.92 1.31 3.3728
4 7.01 7.16 33.90 0.0073 0.9940 0.1040 14.23 6.97 1.79 3.8087
6 6.94 7.13 34.57 0.0072 0.9938 0.1561 21.66 6.88 1.81 3.7931
8 6.92 7.09 34.92 0.0071 0.9937 0.2081 29.11 6.87 1.70 3.7028
10 6.95 7.09 34.67 0.0071 0.9938 0.2601 36.18 6.91 1.27 3.3325
N_A K_f K_L Sh Re Sh lnRe lnSh
Gas Water g/s.m^2 g.s/cm^2 cm/s Gas Water
4 6.0097E06 1.4996E06 8.5378E07 3.07 4 13.36 3.07 2.5922 1.1228
6 9.3094E06 2.4650E06 2.4793E06 8.93 6 21.05 8.93 3.0467 2.1889
8 1.3083E05 3.7250E06 3.7472E06 13.49 8 28.39 13.49 3.3461 2.6019
10 1.7125E05 5.2037E06 5.2343E06 18.84 10 35.30 18.84 3.5640 2.9362
4 6.5146E06 1.8095E06 1.8199E06 6.55 4 13.98 6.55 2.6375 1.8797
6 9.5407E06 2.5976E06 2.6132E06 9.41 6 21.37 9.41 3.0618 2.2415
8 1.2621E05 3.4823E06 3.5043E06 12.62 8 29.11 12.62 3.3709 2.5349
10 1.6595E05 4.9203E06 4.9508E06 17.82 10 36.10 17.82 3.5863 2.8805
4 6.1561E06 1.6164E06 1.6260E06 5.85 4 14.23 5.85 2.6552 1.7671
6 9.1417E06 2.4101E06 2.4250E06 8.73 6 21.66 8.73 3.0755 2.1668
8 1.2343E05 3.3334E06 3.3545E06 12.08 8 29.11 12.08 3.3709 2.4912
10 1.6711E05 5.0144E06 5.0457E06 18.16 10 36.18 18.16 3.5886 2.8995
Flowrate(L/h)
Flowrate(L/h) SaturatedConcentration Differenceinconcentration
60
80
100
Flowrate(L/h)
60
80
100
60
80
100
y=0.7088x6.3003
R=0.9983
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00
S
h

Re
ShVSReforAirFlow60
Air60 Linear(Air60)
y=0.4982x0.9241
R=0.9734
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00
S
h

Re
ShVSReforAirFlow80
Air80 Linear(Air80)
y=0.5481x2.6584
R=0.9617
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00
S
h

Re
ShVSReforAirFlow100
Air100 Linear(Air100)
y=1.8573x3.6142
R=0.983
0.0000
0.5000
1.0000
1.5000
2.0000
2.5000
3.0000
3.5000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
l
n

S
h

lnRe
lnShVSlnReforAirFlow60
Air60 Linear(Air60)
y=1.0239x0.8555
R=0.9808
0.0000
0.5000
1.0000
1.5000
2.0000
2.5000
3.0000
3.5000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
l
n

S
h

lnRe
lnShVSlnReforAirFlow80
Air80 Linear(Air80)
y=1.1766x1.4017
R=0.9768
0.0000
0.5000
1.0000
1.5000
2.0000
2.5000
3.0000
3.5000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
l
n

S
h

lnRe
lnShVSlnReforAirFlow100
Air100 Linear(Air100)
UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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Sample calculation for the set of air flow rate,

and water flow rate,

. At this set of flow rate, we obtained the following results:

First, we get saturation concentration by using the following formula:

Then, we calculate the average temperature,

After that,

is used to find the viscosity, and also the density of liquid, .

Viscosity of water,

Density of water,

UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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After getting the viscosity and the density of water, now we are going to find wetting
rate, .

After getting the wetting rate, we can get the Reynolds number,

for the water.

Next, we are going to find the rate of mass transfer,

Now, once we have

, we can calculate for

After getting

, we are able to get Sherwoods number, .

UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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The next step is to both of the and number and a graph of
was plotted.
DISCUSSION
The diagram below shows the schematic diagram for this experiment.

Based on our experiment, all the results are tabulated in the tables and graphs
are plotted. From the results that we collected, we found that when the water flow
rate increases at the constant air flow rate subsequently it will reduce the inlet of
oxygen concentration. The relationship between the water flow rate against the
wetting rate and the Reynolds number can be conclude that when the water flow rate
increases, both the wetting rate and the Reynolds number will also increases as well.
Furthermore, the increment of the mass transfer coefficient, k
L
will affect the rate of
UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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mass transfer. The relationship between the Sherwood number and Reynolds number
are shown in the calculation part and graphs of it are plotted. From the calculation,
we know that the when water flow rate increases, the Sherwood number (Sh) also
increases.
Graphs of
L
Sh) ln( versus
L
ln(Re) for different air flow rate are plotted below.
Graph of was plotted. The plotting of the graphs is to determine the
slope of the graph. From the graphs, it is showed that the when the water flow rate
increases, it lead the graph of increases linearly. Graphs of different
flow rate showed the same effect when the water flow rate increases in this
experiment.

y = 1.8573x - 3.6142
R = 0.983
0.0000
0.5000
1.0000
1.5000
2.0000
2.5000
3.0000
3.5000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
l
n

S
h

ln Re
ln Sh VS ln Re for Air Flow 60
Air 60 Linear (Air 60)
UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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Air flow rate = 60 l/h Air flow rate = 80l/h Air flow rate = 100 l/h
Re
2
value 0.9991

0.9997

0.9999

Table 2: Re
2
for different air flow rate

From the plotted graphs, it showed that the Re
2
value increases when the air flow rate
increases.
In this experiment, the water diffusion is the mass transfer. From all the
information given in the lab manual and from the reading of the machine, we only
y = 1.0239x - 0.8555
R = 0.9808
0.0000
0.5000
1.0000
1.5000
2.0000
2.5000
3.0000
3.5000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
l
n

S
h

ln Re
ln Sh VS ln Re for Air Flow 80
Air 80 Linear (Air 80)
y = 1.1766x - 1.4017
R = 0.9768
0.0000
0.5000
1.0000
1.5000
2.0000
2.5000
3.0000
3.5000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
l
n

S
h

ln Re
ln Sh VS ln Re for Air Flow 100
Air 100 Linear (Air 100)
UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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know the concentration of the dissolved oxygen and the temperature. All this value
leads us to calculate the mass transfer coefficient when the driving force is expressed
in the term of concentration. We know that gas absorption essentially involved the
transfer of materials from the gas phase to the liquid phase. It is also defined as the
operation in which a gas mixture is contacted with a liquid for the purpose of
preferentially dissolving one or more components of the gas mixture and to provide a
solution of them in the liquid. The gaseous component is said to be absorbed by the
liquid. On this gas absorption, mass transfer is occurring where there is a net
movement of mass from one location to another because of a variance in absorption.
In fact, mass transfer is strongly influenced by molecular spacing, diffusion occurs
more readily in gases than in liquid and more readily in liquids than in solid
The accuracy of this experiment is affected by a few errors. The diffusion
coefficient of oxygen is assumed to be constant throughout the experiment. In reality,
the diffusion coefficient depends on both pressure and temperature. In adjusting the
flow rate of air and water, parallax error might occur when readings are taken. Thus,
the results are affected. To reduce this human error, few readings should be taken at
the eye level and only consider the average reading when calculation is to be done.
During the experiment, there is no precise value to determine the amount of nitrogen
gas needed to produce a steady stream of nitrogen bubbles to be fed into
deoxygenated column. Therefore, when the valve is being turned on and off, the flow
of nitrogen gas will be different and eventually affect the subsequent results above.

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, the objective was achieved. The Re
2
value increases when
the air flow rate increases. From the results of this experiment, Reynolds number is
proportional to the Sherwood number. Thus, we can conclude that the mass transfer
coefficient is also proportional to the water flow rate.

UEMK2411 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY I GROUP 09
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REFERENCES
1. ChE 382: Unit Operations Laboratory. (n.d.). Retrieved July 3, 2011, from
ChE 382: Unit Operations Laboratory:
http://www.uic.edu/depts/chme/UnitOps/CO2.pdf
2. (2011). Mass Transfer. In E. Henley, J. Seader, & D. Roper, Separation
Process Principles (pp. 91-149). Asia: John Wiley & Sons Pte Ltd.
3. Incropera, F. P., Dewitt, D. P., Bergman, T. L., & Lavine, A. S. (2005). Mass
Transfer by Diffusion. In F. Incropera, D. Dewitt, T. Bergman, & A. Lavine,
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer (pp. 879 - 916). Asia: John Wiley
& Sons Inc.
4. MASS TRANSFER IN GAS ABSORPTION & DIFFUSION. (n.d.). Retrieved
July 3, 2011, from http://www.separationprocesses.com:
http://www.separationprocesses.com/Absorption/GA_Chp02.htm