Adsorption of carbon dioxide by sodium carbonate solutions in a gas-bubble column

Author

Joseph Don Singalewitch, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

6-30-1957

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Chemical Engineering

First Advisor

Joseph Joffe

Second Advisor

George C. Keeffe

Third Advisor

C. L. Mantell

Abstract

A study was conducted on the absorption of pure carbon dioxide by sodium carbonate-sodium bicarabonate systems in a gas-bubble column (in which bubbles, formed by passing a gas through a porous plate at the base of to column, rise up through a descending continuous liquid phase). This equipment was found to be entremely effcient, under the condtions of the experiments, covered liquid rates (9,000 to 13,000 pounds per hour per square foot) with gas rates of 30 to 60 pounds per hour or square foot. The absorption section of the column was two inches in diameter and one foot in height. Sodium carbonate normalities were varied from 0 to 1.2 normal with bicarbonate fractions ranging from 0 to 0.65. The effects of temperature, column height, and column diameter were not investigated.

A correlation equation was obtained for Kga at 25° Centigrade and one foot column height which gave agreement with the main body of data to within ?8%.

Kga = 1.00x10^-4 L^0.834 G^0.308 (0.800 ? 0.110N)16mols/hr-ft³-atm.

The values of Kga obtained were as much as five times greater those given in the literature for packed towers.

A qualitative analysis or the data Indicated that to process was probably primarily one controlled by diffusion of the carbon dioxide through the liquid film, the sodium carbonate serving mainly to prevent a buildup of carbon dioxide back pressure.

Recommended Citation

Singalewitch, Joseph Don, "Adsorption of carbon dioxide by sodium carbonate solutions in a gas-bubble column" (1957). Theses. 2596.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2596