A “Greenhouse Gas” Experiment for the Undergraduate Laboratory

Authors

  • Elaine Gomez Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102
  • Melissa Paul Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102
  • Charles Como Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102
  • Robert Barat Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102

Abstract

This experiment and analysis offer an effective experience in greenhouse gas reduction. Ammoniated water is flowed counter-current to a simulated flue gas of air and CO2 in a packed column. The gaseous CO2 concentrations are measured with an on-line, non- dispersive, infrared analyzer. Column operating parameters include total gas flux, dissolved NH3 concentration, liquid flux, and inlet CO2 partial pressure. The CO2 capture efficiency is correlated using a kinetic model with a dimensionless Stanton number and a mass transfer coefficient. 

Author Biographies

Elaine Gomez, Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102

Elaine Gomez will obtain her BS in Chemical Engineering from NJIT in May 2014. Upon her graduation, she will pursue a doctoral degree in chemical engineering to do research and development of alternative energy solutions and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. 

Melissa Paul, Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102

Melissa Paul graduated from NJIT in 2011 with a BS in Chemical Engineering with a Minor in Business. Melissa played for the NJIT Women’s Soccer Team, and was inducted into Rho Alpha Sigma for top leaders in Student Affairs.   Later, she earned an MS in Engineering Management at NJIT. Melissa now works for L’Oreal USA in product procurement. 

Charles Como, Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102

Charles Como graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from NJIT in 2011.  He has worked as a Researcher and Designer, and a Process Engineer, for Concorde Specialty Gases and the Jacobs Engineering Group.   He is finalizing a patent for undergraduate research on a crystal separation unit. 

Robert Barat, Otto York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ 07102

Robert Barat earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from MIT in 1990, at which point he joined the NJIT faculty.  As a professor, he is currently the faculty coordinator of the NJIT Chemical Engineering Laboratories.   His current research and development activities include reactor engineering and catalysis. 

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Published

2014-05-01

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 2 (2014): Spring 2014

Section

Manuscripts