Aqueous solutions of hydrocolloid mixtures have been employed as liquid phases in gas-liquid absorption processes employing a bubbling stirred vessel as contactor. The influence of the liquid phase composition upon certain physical properties and, subsequently, upon the mass transfer and gas-liquid interfacial area, have been analysed taking into account the operating conditions in relation to the stirring rate, the gas flow-rate and the non-Newtonian behaviour of the liquid phases employed in the present work. The liquid phase viscosity shows an important role in mass transfer coefficient and in gas-liquid interfacial area and synergetic effects have been analysed to explain mass transfer behaviour. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.