Specific Interfacial Area and Mass Transfer Coefficients in Absorption Columns with Plastic Packing Materials.

The surface hydrophilization of plastic packing materials leads to a marked increase in the effective interfacial area and in the volumetric mass transfer coefficient for both physical and chemical absorption. The interfacial area is increased by a factor of 1. 9 and both the mass transfer coefficient and the mass throughput coefficient are increased by a factor of 1. 7. The shape and size of the packing used Raschig ring, Pall ring, Super Torus saddle; 15 to 50 mm) have been found to have little influence on the increase. The values for the relative increase of the area compare well with those calculated from the correlation of Onda et al. as ratios of the wetted areas of geometrically identical ceramic packings and plastic packings without any surface treatment. The methods developed for the surface hydrophilization of plastic packings, applicable in both liquid and gas phases have been tested on a pilot plant scale.