Germanium tetrachloride (left(mathrm{GeCl}_{4} ight)) and silicon tetrachloride (left(mathrm{SiCl}_{4} ight)) are used in the production of optical fibers.

Germanium tetrachloride \(\left(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\right)\) and silicon tetrachloride \(\left(\mathrm{SiCl}_{4}\right)\) are used in the production of optical fibers. Both chlorides are oxidized at high temperature and converted to glasslike particles. However, the \(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\) oxidation is quite incomplete, and it is necessary to scrub the unreacted \(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\) from its air carrier in a packed column operating at \(298 \mathrm{~K}\) and \(1 \mathrm{~atm}\) with a dilute caustic solution. At these conditions, the dissolved \(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\) has no vapor pressure, and mass transfer is controlled by the gas phase. Thus, the equilibrium curve is a straight line of zero slope. The entering gas flows at the rate of \(23,850 \mathrm{~kg} /\) day of air containing \(288 \mathrm{~kg} /\) day of \(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\). The air also contains \(540 \mathrm{~kg} /\) day of \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\), which, when dissolved, also will have no vapor pressure.

It is desired to absorb at least \(99 \%\) of both \(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\) and \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) in an existing \(0.75-\mathrm{m}\)-diameter column that is packed to a height of \(3.0 \mathrm{~m}\) with \(20-\mathrm{mm}\) ceramic Hiflow rings. The liquid rate should be set so that the column operates at \(75 \%\) of flooding. Because the solutions are very dilute, it can be assumed that both gases are absorbed independently. For the two diffusing species, take \(D_{\mathrm{GeCl} 4}=0.06 \mathrm{~cm}^{2} / \mathrm{s}\); \(D_{\mathrm{Cl} 2}=0.13 \mathrm{~cm}^{2} / \mathrm{s}\). Determine

(a) Liquid flow rate, in \(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{s}\).

(b) The percentage of absorption of \(\mathrm{GeCl}_{4}\) and \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) based on the available \(3.0 \mathrm{~m}\) of packing.