Plate column

A plate column (or tray column[1]) is equipment used in chemistry to carry out unit operations where it is necessary to transfer mass between a liquid phase and a gas phase.

Some common applications of plate columns are distillation, gas-liquid absorption and liquid-liquid extraction.

In general, plate columns are suitable for both continuous and batch operations.

These two phases come in contact in correspondence of holes, valves or bubble caps that fill the area of the plates.

The liquid and gas produced at the top and at the bottom are in general recirculated.