ABSORPTION

1. The overall liquid transfer coefficient,KLa, for the absorption of SO2 in water in
a column is 0.003 kmol/s m3 (kmol/m3). By assuming an expression for the
absorption of NH3 in water at the same liquor rate and varying gas rates,
derive an expression for the overall liquid film coefficient KLa for absorption of
NH3 in water in this equipment at the same water rate though with varying
gas rates. The diffusivities of SO2 and NH 3 in air at 273 K are 0.103 and 0.170
cm2/s. SO2 dissolves in water, and Henrys constant is equal to 50(kN/m 2)/
(kmol/m3). All data are expressed for the same temperature.
a) 0.00016 kmol/s m3
b) 0.00025 kmol/s m3
d) 0.00056 kmol/s m3

c)

0.00037

kmol/s

m3

2. A wetted-wall column is used for absorbing sulphur dioxide from air by means
of a caustic soda solution. At an air flow of 2 kg/m 2 s, corresponding to a
Reynolds number of 5160, the friction factor R/u2 is 0.0200. Calculate the
mass transfer coefficient in kg SO 2/s m2 under these conditions if the tower is
at atmospheric pressure. At the temperature of absorption the following
values may be used: The diffusion coefficient for SO 2=0.116104 m2 /s, the
viscosity of gas=0.018 mNs/m2, and the density of gas stream=1.154 kg/m3.
a) 8.56104 kg SO2/m2 s
b) 7.56104 kg SO2/m2 s

c) 9.45 104 kg SO2/m2 s

d) 2.22104 kg SO2/m2 s

3. You are planning to reduce the two percent carbon dioxide in 23 pounds per
second of a natural gas stream using absorption in aqueous diethylamine
flowing out at 40 pounds per second. You want to use either 1

Raschig rings or 1

1
2

1
2

inch

inch Pall rings. In either case, you want to design for a

pressure drop of 0.25 inch H 2O per foot, so that foaming is minimized. Under
the operating conditions, the densities of the gas and the liquid are 2.8 and
63 lbs/ft3, respectively; the liquid's viscosity is 2 centipoise. What should the
tower's cross-sectional area be?
a) 1.80 lbs/ft2 sec
lbs/ft2 sec

b) 2.3 lbs/ft2 sec

c) 0.90 lbs/ft2 sec d)

3.50

4. A packed tower uses an organic amine to absorb carbon dioxide. The entering
gas, which contains 1.26 mol % CO 2, is to leave with only 0.04 mol % CO 2.
The amine enters pure, without CO 2. If the amine left in equilibrium with the
entering gas (which it doesn't), it would contain 0.80 mol % CO 2. The gas flow
is 2.3 gmol/sec. the liquid flow is 4.8 gmol/sec, the tower's diameter is 40

ABSORPTION
centimeters, and the overall mass transfer coefficient times the area per
volume Kya is 5 x 10-5 gmol/cm3 sec. How tall should this tower be?
a) 3.2 m

b) 4.6 m

c) 9.7 m

d) 10.4 m

5. You are testing a new packed tower to strip oxygen from water using excess
nitrogen. The oxygen-free water is to be used in microelectric manufacture.
Your tower is small, about 2 meters high and 0.6 meter in diameter, filled with
1 inch Hy-Pak rings. You expect the value of mG for oxygen is large and the
dominant transfer coefficient in the liquid will be 2.2 x 10 -3 centimeters per
second. The water flow is to be 300cm 3/sec. How much oxygen can we
remove with this tower?
a) 75%
50%

b) 90%

c) 10%

d)

6. 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 absorber with yA = 0.01. Solvent enters the
absorber at the rate of of 1500 kmol/h with xA = 0.001. The equilibrium
relationship is yA = 2.8 xA. The carrier gas may be considered insoluble in the
solvent and the solvent may be considered nonvolatile. Get the value of L
bar.
a) 1569 kmol/h
b) 1623 kmol/h
c) 1498 kmol/h
d)
3502 kmol/h
7. Refer to question #6, what is the value of V bar?
a) 450 kmol/h
kmol/h

b) 215 kmol/h

c) 89 kmol/h

d)

350

8. Refer to question #6, what is the value of the concentration of A in the

solvent stream?
a) 0.0898
9.

b) 0.0989

c) 0.00898

d) 0.00989

A wetted-wall column is used for absorbing sulphur dioxide from air by

means of a caustic soda solution. At an air flow of 2 kg/m 2 s, corresponding to
a Reynolds number of 5160, the friction factor R/u2 is 0.0200. Calculate the
mass transfer coefficient in kg SO 2/s m2 under these conditions if the tower is
at atmospheric pressure. At the temperature of absorption the following
values may be used: The diffusion coefficient for SO 2=0.116104 m2 /s, the
viscosity of gas=0.018 mNs/m2, and the density of gas stream=1.154 kg/m3.

ABSORPTION
a) 8.56104 kg SO2/m2 s
b) 7.56104 kg SO2/m2 s

c) 9.45 104 kg SO2/m2 s

d) 2.22104 kg SO2/m2 s

10.Gas, from a petroleum distillation column, has a concentration of H2S

reduced from 0.03 (kmolH2S/kmol of inert hydrocarbon gas) to 1 per cent of
this value by scrubbing with a triethanolaminewater solvent in a
countercurrent tower, operating at 300 K and atmospheric pressure. The
equilibrium relation for the solution may be taken asYe =2X. The solvent
enters the tower free of H2S and leaves containing 0.013 kmol of H2S/kmol of
msolvent. If the flow of inert gas is 0.015 kmol/s m2 mof tower cross-section,
calculate the height of the absorber necessary.
a) 22
b) 23
c) 21
d) 25