Integrated Process Design: Production of Packing Material and Packed-Column Design for the Efficient Ammonia Gas Absorption

Abstract

Process design is the manner of designing and developing a production process for a particular chemical product. This research aims to design a process for the production of geopolymerized perlite as packing material that will be utilized in the design of a packed-column for ammonia gas absorption. The process involves the following steps: (1) collection of raw perlite from Lamba, Albay, Bicol; (2) geopolymerization of perlite; (3) quality testing; and (4) fabrication of geopolymerized packing material. A conceptual design for the production of geopolymerized perlite packings was developed. The result of its thermal stability, chemical resistance, and compression strength shall be the basis of an ideal packing material. Recent research indicates that 45% by weight Na₂SiO₃ exhibited the highest retained mass and the highest compressive strength making this geopolymerized perlite a potential packing material with a packing factor of 0.00175/ft. Other studies presented the least Na₂SiO₃ weight percent results in better geopolymer properties. Based on these results, a packed-column was designed for the absorption of ammonia gas with a length-to-diameter, L/D ratio of 3.8. This process design of the fabrication of geopolymerized packing material will provide a solution to the dilemmas of existing packing materials used in the industry.