The effect of the hydrolysis reaction upon the rate of absorption of chlorine into water

The rate of absorption of chlorine into water was studied in a short wetted‐wall column. This absorption system is characterized by a liquid phase chemical reaction occurring simultaneously with the absorption process, and thus the absorption coeffiecient is greater than in the case of physical absorption. The ratio of the absorption coefficient accompanied by the hydrolysis reaction to the physical absorption coefficient varied from 1.3 to 3, depending on the chlorine partial pressure and the liquid flow rate. Penetration‐theory solutions for absorption accompanied by the hydrolysis reaction were obtained by the use of an IBM‐709 digital computer. Excellent agreement between the experimental and computed results was obtained on the assumption that the forward rate constant for the hydrolysis reaction was 13.7 sec. −1 at 25°C. This value compared favorably with the published results of kinetic studies of the hydrolysis reaction.