Gaseous Emission Control by Absorption

GASEOUS EMISSION
CONTROL BY
ABSORPTION
Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr. Haripada Bhunia
Presentation Outline
 Absorption
 Mechanism of absorption
 Solubility
 Absorption Unit
 Spray tower
 Plate or tray tower
 Packed tower
Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

ABSORPTION
Absorption is a process where transfer of a gaseous component from gas phase to liquid
phase takes place. More specifically in air pollution control, absorption involves the removal
of objectionable gaseous contaminant from a process stream by dissolving them in liquid.
Common terms used in absorption process are as follows:
1. Absorbent: the liquid, usually water, into which contaminant is absorbed.
2. Absorbate or solute: The gaseous contaminant being absorbed, such as SO2, H2S, etc.
3. Carrier gas: the inert portion of gas stream, usually air, from which the contaminant is to be
removed.
4. Interface: the area where the gas phase and the absorbent contact each other.
5. Solubility: the capability of the gas to be dissolved in a liquid.

ABSORPTION
Absorption equipment used to remove gaseous contaminants are referred to as absorber

or wet scrubber. Wet scrubbers usually cannot be operated to optimize simultaneous
removal of both gases and particulate matter. In designing absorber from gaseous
emissions, optimum mass transfer can be accomplished by:
1. Providing a large interfacial contact area.
2. Providing good mixing between gas and liquid phases.
3. Allowing sufficient residence or contact time between the phases.
4. Ensuring a high degree of solubility of the contaminant in the absorbent.

MECHANISM OF ABSORPTION
The gaseous contaminants are removed in absorption process by passing (contacting) a

contaminated laden gas through a liquid. The following three steps occur during this process:
Step1: The pollutant diffuses from bulk area of the gas phases to the gas liquid interface.
Step2: gaseous pollutant transfers across the interface to the liquid phase. This second step is
extremely rapid.
Step3: The pollutant diffuses bulk area of the liquid, making room for additional gas molecule to
absorb.
The rate of mass transfer (absorption) is dependent on the diffusion rate in either the gas phase or
the liquid phase. The diffusion rate of gaseous pollutant molecule through a gas is always faster
than its diffusion rate through the liquid because molecules in the gas are further apart than are
molecules in the liquid. However, the mass transfer rate depends primarily upon the solubility of
the pollutant in the liquid.
SOLUBILITY
Solubility of a contaminant affects the amount of contaminant that can be absorbed. It is a

function of both the temperature and, to a lesser extent pressure of a system. As we increase the
temperature of the system, the amount of gas that can be absorbed by liquid decreases, while as
with increasing the pressure generally absorption increases. The solubility data are analyzed by
equilibrium diagram.
Under certain conditions, Henry’s law may also be used to express equilibrium solubility of gas
liquid system, Henry’s law is expresses as:
p* = Hx
Where:
p*=partial pressure of solute at equilibrium
x=mole fraction of solute in the liquid
H=Henry’s law constant, pressure/mole fraction
SOLUBILITY
Henry’s law can be rearranged as

y*=Hx
Where:
y*=mole fraction in gas phase in equilibrium with liquid.
H=Henry’s law constant, mole fraction in vapour phase/mole fraction in liquid phase
Restriction on Henry’s law:

1. Henry’s law can be used to predict solubility only when the equilibrium line is straight.
2. Henry’s law does not hold good for gases that react or dissociate upon dissolution.

ABSORPTION TOWER
Spray Tower
• Spray towers are useful for large volume handling with relatively low pressure drop and high
efficiency. In general, smaller the droplet size the greater the turbulence, the more chance for
absorption of the gas.
• Absorbing liquid usually water is sprayed through the contaminated gas and the absorbent
contaminant solution falls downwards for removal while clean gas exits through an outlet valve
at the top of unit.
• Moisture eliminator reduces the amount of moisture in the gases being released. Spray tower
has less gas liquid interfacial area so they are less effective in removal of gaseous contaminant.

ABSORPTION TOWER
Exhaust
Gas inlet
Spray Tower
ABSORPTION TOWER
Plate Or Tray Tower

• This type of tower contain horizontal trays or plates that provide large gas liquid interfacial
areas. The polluted air is introduced from one side of the bottom of the column, rise up through
the opening in each tray, and the rising gas prevents the liquid from draining through the
opening. Due to repeated contact of gas and liquid, the contaminants are removed and the
clean air emerges from the top.
• In bubble cap tray column, the contaminated gas moves upward until they strike the cap, at
which point they are diverted downward and discharged as small bubbles from slots at the
bottom of the caps. Since gas continues flow in upward direction so repeated interaction takes
place and contaminated gas is removed and clean gas emerges from the top. The contaminant-
laden liquid flows to the bottom and is drawn off.

ABSORPTION TOWER
Liquid in
Schematic diagram of bubble cap tray tower

ABSORPTION TOWER
Packed Tower
• In packed tower the contact time between vapour and liquid is increased by introducing packing.
The packing material has a large surface to volume ratio and a large void ratio that offers
minimum resistance to gas flow.
• Generally packed towers are operated counter currently, with gas entering at the bottom of the
tower and liquid entering from the top. Liquid flows over the surface of the packing in a thin film
causing continuous contact with the gases.
• Packed towers are highly efficient but they become easily clogged when gas with high
particulate loads are introduced.

ABSORPTION TOWER
Counter current flow packed tower

Thank You

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GASEOUS EMISSION

Department of Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

Absorption equipment used to remove gaseous contaminants are referred to as absorber

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

The gaseous contaminants are removed in absorption process by passing (contacting) a

Solubility of a contaminant affects the amount of contaminant that can be absorbed. It is a

Henry’s law can be rearranged as

Restriction on Henry’s law:

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

Plate Or Tray Tower

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

Schematic diagram of bubble cap tray tower

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

Counter current flow packed tower

Department of Chemical Engineering, TIET 2/5/23

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