SOME ASPECTS OF SO2 ABSORPTION BY WATER-GENERALIZED TREATMENT

The absorption of SO2 by water in processes such as precipitation scavenging and deposition at ground level by rivers and lakes involves the solution of gaseous SO2 followed by the first and second dissociations of sulfurous acid. Analysis of this phenomena can be simplified by considering the dissociation reactions to be very fast relative to the diffusion processes occurring in the liquid phase. In that context, a generalized theory for SO2 absorption is presented in this paper, and model calculations for washout by rain show improved results in predicting the pH of the liquid phase. Applicability of the theory is discussed, and comparisons of the predictions with recent measurements are very good. © 1979.