Research Article Open Access

Carbon Dioxide Transfer with Chemical Equilibrium Reactions: An Alternative Mathematical Approach

A. Shanableh1
  • 1 University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Problem statement: Despite intensive research efforts on CO2 transfer, mathematical models that describe the dependence of the CO2 transfer rate on the pH and the degree of rate enhancement due to CO2 chemical reactions remain unavailable. Approach: Such models are essential for assessing and accurately describing the progress of the CO2 transfer process. Results: In this study, an alternative view of CO2 transfer with chemical reactions was used to develop simple mathematical models to describe the pH dependence and degree of enhancement of the CO2 transfer rate. In the alternative view, the driving force for CO2 transfer was described in terms of the differences in the concentrations of the various carbonic species in the bulk liquid (i.e., ΔCΔt(H2CO*3), , ΔCΔt(HO-3) and ΔCΔt(CO2-3) ) in time (i.e., between time, t, and the time when equilibrium is achieved, tEq) rather than in terms of the concentrations gradients across the liquid film. Using the concentration differences in time, simple mathematical models describing the pH dependence of the CO2 transfer rate and the contributions of the various carbonic species to the rate were formulated. Furthermore, the degree of CO2 transfer rate enhancement due to CO2 reactions in water was considered proportional to the sum of the rates of HCO-3 and CO2-3 transfer. Conclusion/Recommendations: The mathematical models were tested using data from batch and continuous-flow CO2 transfer experiments, and the results revealed that the mathematical models explained the experimental data in an excellent manner.

American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Volume 2 No. 4, 2009, 726-734

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajeassp.2009.726.734

Submitted On: 27 February 2009 Published On: 31 December 2009

How to Cite: Shanableh, A. (2009). Carbon Dioxide Transfer with Chemical Equilibrium Reactions: An Alternative Mathematical Approach . American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2(4), 726-734. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajeassp.2009.726.734

  • 3,726 Views
  • 2,523 Downloads
  • 3 Citations

Download

Keywords

  • CO2 transfer
  • transfer rate
  • mathematical models
  • pH-dependant transfer rate
  • contributions of carbonic species to the transfer rate
  • enhancement of CO2 transfer