Development and characterization of perlite from Lamba, Albay, Bicol as packing material and the design of a packed column for the absorption of ammonia gas

¹ Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Santo Tomas  
² Research Center for the Natural and Applied Science, University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard 1015, Manila, The Philippines

Corresponding author: lbpestano@ust.edu.ph

Abstract

Gas absorption is a unit operation and separation process wherein soluble components of a gas mixture are dissolved in liquid solvent. This unit operation utilizes packing materials which play a vital role in providing surface area for gas and liquid contact. In this study, perlite from Lamba, Albay, Bicol was used in the production of packing material. The objectives of the study are to develop and characterize a packing material using a geopolymer derived from perlite and to design a packed column for the absorption of ammonia gas. The study determines the ideal perlite-Na₂SiO₃ concentration, packing factor, and L/D ratio. Three perlite-Na₂SiO₃ concentrations (45%, 60%, 75% wt. Na₂SiO₃) were subjected to various tests such as: thermal stability, chemical resistance, and compressive strength. The 45% wt. Na₂SiO₃ exhibited the least weight loss and the highest compressive strength making this geopolymerized perlite a potential packing material for gas absorption with a packing factor of 0.00175 ft^-1. Based on the results, a packed column was designed for the absorption of ammonia gas with an L/D ratio of 2.5.