MODELING OF REACTIVE ABSORPTION USING THE MAXWELL-STEFAN EQUATIONS

The modeling and design of reactive absorption is based on a theoretic al description of reaction and mass transport in multicomponent system s. The multicomponent nature of these phenomena leads to complex proce ss behavior due to the superposition of many driving forces-multicompo nent diffusion, chemical interactions, convective flows, multicomponen t thermodynamic interplay, etc. For this reason, an adequate theoretic al description of the multicomponent reactive systems calls for the ap plication of the Maxwell-Stefan equations and, further, for the use of matrix coupled mass-transfer equations together with the relevant rea ction kinetics. On this basis, a two-phase, gas-liquid system is consi dered and a general model is developed for its design. Reactions in bo th liquid and gas phases are taken into account, and both the film and bulk reaction mechanisms are allowed for. The transport equation desc ribing the film phenomena is solved analytically by using a linearizat ion of the reaction term. The model is applied to the description of N O, absorption. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical result s demonstrated their good agreement.