INTRODUCTION

Water from feed tank was pumped to the top of the column by a centrifugal pump.
This water flowed down the column wetting the packing and returned to the tank.
The gas, CO2 crossed a variable area flow meter and it was mixed with compressed
air coming from a compressor installed in the framework. This gaseous mixture
entered the column bottom then met the water falling down the column in counter
current flow.
Practical experiment was conducted by analysing the composition of absorbing
liquid. The analyses of CO2 absorbed in water were done through the titration of
liquid samples with 0.03N NaOH.100ml of water was obtained as a reference
sample. We extracted samples at a quantity measurement of 100 ml from valve V6
(D1) and valve V4 at an interval of 10 mins for about 60mins.After 60 mins the unit
was shut down and we drained water in the feed tank. In our calculations, we have
observed that the amount of NaOH needed for titration was almost equal to the
moles of CO2 and composition in water.

THEORY
Absorption is defined as the removal of selected components from a mixture of
gases into a suitable liquid. Separation can be done physically or chemically. For an
absorption column to operate efficiently, the gas and liquid phases should be brought
in close contact with another. In absorption the gas is introduced from the bottom of
the column and the liquid at the top of the column to achieve counter current flow. If
two phases are brought into contact with one another, they will reach equilibrium
.Water in contact with air evaporates until air is saturated with water vapour and the
air is absorbed by water until saturated with individual gases. The extent to which the
gas is absorbed by the liquid is also determined by partial pressure at a given
temperature and concentration with an increase in in temperature the solubility
decreases. Relationship between the dissolved component and component in the
gas phase is given by Henry law.
PA =HCA
PA =partial pressure of component (A) in the gas state
CA =concentration of component in the liquid.
H Henry’s constant
Above theory reference from unisa chem 3 tech is reflected under my references.

1
Absorption unit

FIGURE 1

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
PART A
 Proper personal protective clothes were worn
 Read the manual and followed the instruction
 Filled the tank with water up to ¾ full
 100ml of water was taken as a reference sample
 Started the water pump and set the flow rate at 200l/h
 Started the compressor and adjusted the flow rate of air to 30l/m
 Opened CO2 valve to 15l/min
 After 15 minutes of steady-state conditions we extracted a sample of liquid
from the valve at the bottom of the tank (V4) and (V6) at an interval of 10
minutes until 60 minutes.

2
PART B
Analysed CO2 dissolved in water

 Prepared indicator phenolphthalein with water without CO2

 Prepare NaOH solution (0.03N):31ml and dissolved in litre of water without
CO2
 Prepared standard solution of sodium bicarbonate in 100ml without CO2
 Extracted 150 ml of water from the tank D1 and poured 100ml into a
measuring cylinder
 Extracted 150ml of water from the valve V4 and poured 100ml into a
measuring cylinder
 Added 3 to 5 drops into each measuring cylinder.
 Red colour indicated that, there was no free CO2
 When the sample remained colourless , we titrated with NaOH standard
solution up to persistent pink and recorded the volume of used titrating
solution

RESULTS DISCUSSION AND CALCULATIONS

CALCULATIONS
The amount of free CO2 in the water sample was calculated from gram mole/litre of
free CO2
That is VT *Conc base/ml of the sample =concentration of free CO2
CO2 concentration=VT*0.03/VC
Vc=100ml
e.g 16.4ml*0.03/100=0.00492

TABLE 1

TIME VALVE 6(D1) VALVE V4

min VT(ml) C co2(moles/l) VT(ml) Cco2(moles/l)
10 16.4 0.00492 12.9 0.00387
20 22.4 0.00672 8.5 0.00255
30 12.6 0.00378 8.6 0.00258
40 8.7 0.00261 7.2 0.00216
50 10.1 0.00303 6.0 0.00180
60 8.4 0.00252 7.3 0.00219

3
FI1 was set at 200l/h =200l/h*1h/60min*1min/60sec=0.06l/s

Volume in the tank was 0.75*50 litres which is 37.5litres.

Average absorption rate

0.02358(40)-0.01515(10)*78.6/1800
=0.0345709 moles /min

Instantaneous absorption rate

N = F11 (Ce-CS)*60
=0.06l/s (sum of Ce-CS)*60
=0.06l/s (0.02358-0.01515)60
=0.030348moles/min

CONCLUSION

The objective of the experiment was achieved, we had absorbed the co2 through the
packed column. Through titration of our samples we realised that, co2 was dissolved
in the liquid. Reference sample proved there was no free CO2 by turning red after
addend three drops of the indicator. Samples from valve v4 and v6 remained
colourless until we titrated with the standard solution of NaOH up until the colour
turned persistent pink. Quantity used to titrate the sample was equivalent to the
amount of dissolved co2.

4
RECOMMENDATION

Firstly, I recommend anyone conducting the experiment to read and understand the
instruction manual. Samples from valve V4 and V6 of diluted CO2 must be collected
at the same time for analysis. You must keep on titrating until the pink colour
become stable. I think, it is also important to have an e tutor and a proper discussion
forum before one engage on these practical experiments .This will enhance and
broaden our knowledge to ask vital question needed to write better reports.

REFERENCE

COULSON &RICHARDSON’S (2002) CHEMICAL ENGINEERING VOLUME 2,

Particle technology and separation processes, Butterworth Heinemann, OXFORD
AMSTERDEM
Tutorial letter 501/0/2016, chemical engineering technology III: Unit operations
(module B) (practical guide) (UNISA)

Appendices

ORIGINAL TABLE OF RESULTS ATTACHED