Experimental and simulated operation of absorption column for the removal of VOC from air

Separation processes represent one of the most important operation in chemical industry. The most used techniques are distillation and absorption. The Industrial Chemistry Bachelor’s Degree program at the University of Milano, Chemistry Department, includes a third-year course titled “Industrial Plants with Laboratory”. This laboratory (six university credits course) is devoted to separation processes with an average annual attendance of about 80 people. An experience concerning the use of an absorption column is proposed to the students. A 1 m height column with an internal diameter of 0.044 m, filled with Sulzer-type structural bodies is used for data collection in steady state conditions. Water purifies a mixture of a VOC (acetone) and air in counter current. With the collected data, students check the material balance on the column and, knowing the height of the column, determine the global diffusion coefficients. Moreover, the software PRO II 9.3 by AVEVA is used for the simulation of the plant. The comparison between experimental and simulated data is a key aspect of the laboratory and guarantees a cross-check of both activities. Students evaluation of the course is strongly positive.