MARANGONI INSTABILITY DURING THE ABSORPTION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE INTO AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF MONOETHANOLAMINE

The paper presents a model of surface phenomena accompanying the absorption of carbon dioxide into aqueous solutions of monoethanolamine. The model is based on the assumption that the cellular convection is driven by surface tension gradients, induced in turn by infinitesimally small perturbations of concentration. The model derived makes it possible to study in detail certain characteristics of the process of chemical absorption. Thus, the probability of oscillatory modes occurring in the system is analysed, the dimensions of the convective cells are evaluated and the gas-liquid contact time necessary for the instability to appear is determined. The quantitative conclusions are compared with the relevant experimental data concerning the absorption of CO2 into monoethanolamine in both wetted-wall and packed columns.