THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Names : Taonga .M. Phiri

Sin : 19136124
Program : Chemical Engineering
Course : CE 430
Task : Experiment 8
Supervisor : Mr. Mugala
Contents
Title.......................................................................................................................................................3
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................3
Theory...................................................................................................................................................3
Objectives..............................................................................................................................................3
Materials................................................................................................................................................3
Apparatus..............................................................................................................................................4
Procedure...............................................................................................................................................4
Challenges and limitations.....................................................................................................................4
Results...................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion.............................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................6
Recommendations.................................................................................................................................6
References.............................................................................................................................................6
Appendix...............................................................................................................................................7
A: Data Collection.............................................................................................................................7
B: Density..........................................................................................................................................7
C: Concentration................................................................................................................................8
D: Dilution.........................................................................................................................................9
Title
Gas Absorption-Validation of Liquid Phase Analysis

Abstract
Gas absorption in liquid phase analysis refers to the process by which a gas is dissolved into a
liquid. It occurs at the gas-liquid interface and involves the transfer of gas molecules from the
gas phase to the liquid phase. Being able to understand gas absorption kinetics is crucial for
designing chemical engineering devices, such as gas-liquid stirred tank reactors.
Additionally, technologies like carbon dioxide capture through absorption in liquids rely on
this principle. It was noted that the more diluted a sample the less base was required.

Theory
Gas absorption and its opposite gas desorption (stripping) is a process in which a gaseous
mixture is contacted with a liquid under well-established conditions in which a component of
the gas mixture is transferred or absorbed into the liquid. It involves mass transfer of the
component of the gas from the gas phase to the liquid phase. The solute transferred is said to
be absorbed by the liquid. In gas desorption (or stripping), the mass transfer is in the opposite
direction, of which the transfer is from the liquid phase to gas phase. The principles for both
systems are the same, but in this experiment the interest is gas absorption. It is important to
note that the absorption may be perfectly physical, but chemical reactions may take place.
This principle mostly relies on the contact area between the gas and the absorbing liquid,
however the underlying Principle of absorption is the solubility of the gas in the liquid phase
and the rate of mass transfer of a component from gas phase to liquid phase. The mass
transfer depends on factors like henry’s constant and temperature, further more in separation
columns the gas is usually designed to flow against the liquid (counter current flow) to
maximise the amount of solute absorbed. Absorption can also be chemical, where a chemical
reaction occurs between the absorbed and the absorbent liquid. Researchers have developed
analytic models to describe gas absorption into stirred liquids, and experimental studies
validate these models by measuring the kinetics of gas absorption (e.g., methane or carbon
dioxide) into water at different temperatures and pressures.
The reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium carbonate in this case, sodium carbonate
a weak base reacted with HCl forming a compound called sodium chloride, the reaction was
expressed as
Na2 CO 3 +2 HCl=2 NaCl+CO2 + H 2 O

Objectives
1. To verify the accuracy and reliability of liquid phase measurement during gas
absorption process.
2. To ensure the chosen analytical methods effectively capture the behaviour of solute
transfer from gas to liquid.
Materials
1. Concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl),
2. phenolphthalein indicator,
3. distilled water,
4. sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).

Apparatus
1. 250 ml volumetric flasks
2. 100 ml measuring cylinder
3. 50ml burette
4. Pipette
5. Hygrometer
6. wash bottle.

Procedure
1. The following samples of hydrochloric acid and water were first prepared.
Sample Volume of HCl Volume of H2O
(No) (ml) (ml)
1 25 0
2 20 5
3 15 10
4 10 15
5 5 20

2. 2ml of each of the samples was pipetted into separate vessels.

3. 10ml of distilled water was added to each 2ml sample.
4. 3 drops of phenolphthalein were added to each sample.
5. Each sample was titrated against sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution until the end
point and the results were recorded.

Challenges and limitations

1. Due to multiple samples being evaluated time was a constraint.
2. pH of the solvent, concentration, temperature of both the gas and the solvent all affect
gas absorption.

Results
Calculated values
Sample Dilution (v/v) Volume of Na2CO3 Conc of HCl Specific Gravity
(No) used (ml) (M) (s.g)
1 0 13.70 7.7542 1.158
2 0.2 11.20 6.3392 1.077
3 0.4 9.10 5.1506 1.073
4 0.6 6.70 3.7922 1.030
5 0.8 4.00 2.264 0.9881
Graph of Concentration against Dilution

Conc vs Dilution)
9
8
7
6
Axis Title

5
4
3
2
1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
Axis Title

Specific gravity against Dilution

Dilution vs SG
1.18
1.16
1.14
1.12
1.1
s.g

1.08
1.06
1.04
1.02
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
dilution

Discussion
The experiment was conducted, in that a sample where made each had different concentrations of
hydrochloric acid. Concentrations were calculated for each sample by collecting different volumes of
each sample and titrating it. It was noticed through the data that the concentration kept decreasing as
each sample was being titrated.
Conclusion
The concentration of chlorine was decreasing when water was being added to the aliquot. The
titration method stood out as the easiest and more convenient in this experiment in the way
that the concentration was directly proportional to the dilution which turns out to be easiest
way to figure out the values that are needed and also to interpret data with less or no errors.

Recommendations
 Instruments used in such experiments must be well calibrated.
 Extreme caution in handling corrosive materials such hydrochloric acid as well as
wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment.
 Sufficient ventilation must be achieved or gas masks must be worn when working
with materials with pungent smells.


References
1. A.N. Mugala, P. Chipili and J. Musonda, Chemical Engineering Lab Manual
(CE430), 2017, Chemical Engineering Dept.,The Copperbelt University.
2. 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.
3. W. L. McCabe and J. C. Smith, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 4th ed., p.
617-631, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., New York, NY, 1985.
Appendix
A: Data Collection
Chemical reaction:
Na2 CO 3 +2 HCl=2 NaCl+CO2 + H 2 O

Sample information
Sample Volume of HCl (ml) Volume of H2O Actual volume Mass (g)
(No) (ml) (ml)
1 25 0 23 27.8898
2 20 5 24 26.9179
3 15 10 24 26.8242
4 10 15 23 25.7620
5 5 20 23 24.7015

Titration results

Sample Volume of HCl Volume of Na2CO3 used

(No) (ml) (ml)
1 2 13.70
2 2 11.20
3 2 9.10
4 2 6.70
5 2 4.00

B: Density
Sample 1
m 27.8898 g 3
ρ= = =1.158 g /cm
v 25 cm
3

Sample 2
m 26.9179 g 3
ρ= = =1.077 g /cm
v 25 cm
3

Sample 3
m 26.8242 g 3
ρ= = =1.073 g /cm
v 25 cm
3

Sample 4
m 25.7620 g 3
ρ= = =1.030 g /cm
v 25 cm
3

Sample 5
 m 24.7015 g 3
ρ= = =0.9881 g /cm
v 25 cm
3

Since;
ρsubstance
s . g=
ρwater

the density is equal to the specific volume since we are taking the density of water to be
1g/cm3.
C: Concentration
1. Concentration of Na2CO3 = 0.566 M
2. Volume of pipetted HCl sample is 2ml
Sample 1
m1 v1 n1
=
m2 v2 n2
0.566 ×13.70 1
=
m2 ×2 2

m2=7.7542 M

Sample 2
m1 v1 n1
=
m2 v2 n2
0.566 ×11.20 1
=
m2 ×2 2

m2=6.3392 M

Sample 3
m1 v1 n1
=
m2 v2 n2
0.566 ×9.10 1
=
m2 ×2 2

m2=5.1506 M

Sample 4
m1 v1 n1
=
m2 v2 n2
0.566 ×6.70 1
=
m2 ×2 2

m2=3.7922 M
Sample 5
m1 v1 n1
=
m2 v2 n2
0.566 × 4.00 1
=
m2 × 2 2

m2=2.264 M

D: Dilution
Sample 1
0
dil= =0
25
Sample 2
5
dil= =0.2
25
Sample 3
10
dil= =0.4
25
Sample 4
15
dil= =0.6
25
Sample 5
20
dil= =0.8
25

Dilution factor (v/v) Specific Gravity dilution

(s.g)
0 1.158 0
0.2 1.077 0.2154
0.4 1.073 0.4292
0.6 1.030 0.618
0.8 0.9881 0.79048