New systems and methods for the measurement of effective interfacial area and mass transfer coefficients in gas-liquid contactors

Abstract

New systems have been developed for the measurement of effective interfacial area, a, by the chemical method which allow the use of hydrocarbon solvents, such as toluene, xylene, etc; polar solvents, such as benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, etc; and highly viscous solvents, such as diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, etc. In all the above cases, the reaction between carbon dioxide and selected amines is employed. Effective interfacial area and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient have been measured by the absorption of lean carbon dioxide and pure carbon monoxide/propylene, respectively, into cuprousamine solutions. Here, both water and polar substances, such as, pyridines, benzyl alcohol, isopropanol, etc. can be used.