How to separate a gaseous mixture ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for separating sulfur trioxide (SO3) from a gaseous mixture containing nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and SO3. Participants explore various separation techniques and outline procedures for calculating the composition of the resulting streams, focusing on both theoretical and practical aspects of chemical engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using cryogenic distillation, noting its application in separating air components and mentioning the McCabe-Thiele plot for designing the cryogenic column.
  • Another participant proposes using a heat exchanger to cool the gas mixture to room temperature, allowing SO3 to condense into a liquid phase for removal.
  • A different viewpoint mentions the tendency of sulfur to adhere to surfaces, suggesting that this property could be leveraged in separation processes, particularly in diesel engines and sulfur-generating processes.
  • Some participants express concern about the ethical implications of providing assistance without the original poster demonstrating effort in their inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the best method for separation, with no consensus reached on a single approach. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most effective technique.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference foundational engineering knowledge and skills, indicating that the discussion may hinge on varying levels of understanding of multicomponent distillation and related concepts.

antzlck
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Sulphur trioxide is to be separated from a gas mixture containing N2, O2, and
SO3. Propose a method for carrying out this separation and briefly outline the
procedure for calculating the composition of streams leaving your chosen
separation unit.

Could anyone provide some guidance to me here. I'm a ChemEng undergrad.

Regards :smile:
 
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This is obviously homework. You'll need to show at least a little effort on your part before we can ethically help you.
 
Oh right haha. It's not quite homework, it's exam revision ... 'sample questions' to give us an idea of the format of the exam. It's for a synoptic exam testing our foundational engineering knowledge and skill.

Thinking about it further I said we could use cryogenic distillation (this how you would go about separating the components of air right?), but the question is asking for a bit more than just naming a method. We have covered multicomponent distillation but it's not considered foundational knowledge, only binary so you would used McCabe-Thiele plot to design the cryogenic column?
 
Sulphur Trioxide's boiling point is only 113 fahrenheit; it seems to me a simple heat exchanger cooling the mixture to around room temperature would be plenty to separate the SO3 into a liquid phase that can be easily removed through scrubbing condensation out of a filter or capture tank.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_trioxide
 
Mech_Engineer said:
Sulphur Trioxide's boiling point is only 113 fahrenheit; it seems to me a simple heat exchanger cooling the mixture to around room temperature would be plenty to separate the SO3 into a liquid phase that can be easily removed through scrubbing condensation out of a filter or capture tank.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_trioxide


I can think of an even simpler method. Sulfur, often no matter what form, tends to want to stick to anything. Think about how diesel engines and sulfur generating processes remove sulfur from exhaust streams.
 

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