A model describing the fouling in irrigated columns with random packings was applied successfully to the description of the increase in pressure drop when fouling occurs during the absorption of CO2 in a suspension of Ca(OH)(2). It is based on the Darcy - Weisbach law and the channel model. A mass balance around a fouling layer on the packings leads to a time-dependent equation including the hydraulic radius from the channel model. A removal term is introduced in the fouling model. To approach the experimental results, the removal term had to be extended by an empirical parameter. It can be interpreted as a removal efficiency factor and is obtained by easy numerical fitting.