Prof. R.

Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
1
Course content of
Mass transfer section
L T A
Diffusion
Theory of interface mass transfer
Mass transfer coefficients, overall
coefficients and transfer units
04 01 03
Application of absorption, extraction and
adsorption
Concept of continuous contacting equipment
04 01 04
Simultaneous heat and mass transfer in gas-
liquid contacting, and solids drying
04 01 03
CP302 Separation Process Principles
Mass Transfer - Set 4
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
2
CP302 Separation Process Principles
Reference books used for ppts
1. C.J. Geankoplis
Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles
4
th
edition, Prentice-Hall India

2. J.D. Seader and E.J. Henley
Separation Process Principles
2
nd
edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

3. J.M. Coulson and J.F. Richardson
Chemical Engineering, Volume 1
5
th
edition, Butterworth-Heinemann

Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
3
Microscopic (or Ficks Law) approach:
Macroscopic (or mass transfer coefficient) approach:
N
A
= - k

C
A
where k is known as the mass transfer coefficient
(1)
J
A
= - D
AB
dC
A
dz
(50)
good for diffusion dominated problems
good for convection dominated problems
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
4
N
A
Mass Transfer Coefficient Approach
k
c
C
A
=
N
A
C
A1
C
A2
A & B
k
c
(C
A1
C
A2
)
=
(51)
k
c
is the liquid-phase mass-transfer coefficient
based on a concentration driving force.
What is the unit of k
c
?
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
5
Mass Transfer Coefficient Approach
C
A1
= p
A1
/ RT;

C
A2
= p
A2
/ RT

Using the following relationships between concentrations and
partial pressures:
Equation (51) can be written as
N
A
k
c
(p
A1
p
A2
) / RT
= (52) k
p
(p
A1
p
A2
)
=
where k
p
= k
c
/ RT
(53)
k
p
is a gas-phase mass-transfer coefficient
based on a partial-pressure driving force.
What is the unit of k
p
?
N
A
k
c
C
A
= k
c
(C
A1
C
A2
)
=
(51)
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
6
Mass transfer between phases across the following interfaces
are of great interest in separation processes:
- gas/liquid interface
- liquid/liquid interface
Such interfaces are found in the following separation
processes:
- absorption
- distillation
- extraction
- stripping
Models for mass transfer between phases
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
7
Models for mass transfer at a fluid-fluid interface
Theoretical models used to describe mass transfer between a
fluid and such an interface:
- Film Theory
- Penetration Theory
- Surface-Renewal Theory
- Film Penetration Theory
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
8
Film Theory
Entire resistance to mass transfer in a given turbulent phase
is in a thin, stagnant region of that phase at the interface,
called a film.
Bulk
liquid
Liquid
film
Gas
p
A
z=0 z=
L
C
Ai
C
Ab
For the system shown, gas is
taken as pure component A,
which diffuses into nonvolatile
liquid B.
Mass transport
In reality, there may be mass
transfer resistances in both
liquid and gas phases. So we
need to add a gas film in which
gas is stagnant.
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
9
Two Film Theory
Liquid
phase
Liquid
film
Gas
phase
p
Ab
C
Ai
C
Ab
p
Ai
Gas
film
Mass transport
There are two stagnant films (on either side of the fluid-fluid
interface).
Each film presents a resistance to mass transfer.
Concentrations in the two fluid at the interface are assumed to
be in phase equilibrium.
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
10
Liquid
phase
Gas
phase
p
Ab
C
Ai
C
Ab
p
Ai
Mass transport
Concentration gradients for
the film theory
More realistic concentration
gradients
Liquid
phase
Liquid
film
Gas
phase
p
Ab
C
Ai
C
Ab
p
Ai
Gas
film
Mass transport
Interface Interface
Two Film Theory
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
11
Liquid
phase
Liquid
film
Gas
phase
p
Ab
C
Ai
C
Ab
p
Ai
Gas
film
Mass transport, N
A
Two Film Theory applied at steady-state
N
A
k
c
(C
Ai
C
Ab
)
=
(51)
N
A
(52) k
p
(p
Ab
p
Ai
)
=
Mass transfer in the gas phase:
Mass transfer in the liquid phase:
Phase equilibrium is assumed at
the gas-liquid interface.

Applying Henrys law,
p
Ai
= H
A
C
Ai
(53)
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
12
Liquid
film
p
Ab
C
Ab
Gas
film
Henrys Law
p
Ai
= H
A
C
Ai
at equilibrium,

where H
A
is Henrys constant for A
Unit of H:

[Pressure]/[concentration] = [ bar / (kg.m
3
) ]
C
Ai
p
Ai
Note that p
Ai
is the gas phase pressure
and C
Ai
is the liquid phase concentration.
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
13
Liquid
phase
Liquid
film
Gas
phase
p
Ab
C
Ai
C
Ab
p
Ai
Gas
film
Mass transport, N
A
Two Film Theory applied at steady-state
We know the bulk concentration and partial pressure.

We do not know the interface concentration and partial pressure.
Therefore, we eliminate p
Ai
and
C
Ai
from (51), (52) and (53) by
combining them appropriately.

Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
14
Two Film Theory applied at steady-state
N
A
(54) From (52):
Substituting the above in (53) and rearranging:
(56)
p
Ai
= p
Ab
-
k
p
N
A
(55) From (51): C
Ai
= C
Ab
+
k
c
N
A
=
p
Ab
- H
A
C
Ab
H
A
/ k
c
+ 1 / k
p

The above expression is based on gas-phase and
liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients.

Let us now introduce overall gas-phase and
overall liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients.
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
15
Introducing overall gas-phase mass transfer
coefficient:
Lets start from (56).
Introduce the following imaginary gas-phase partial pressure:
p
A
*

H
A
C
Ab
where p
A
*

is a partial pressure that would have been in
equilibrium with the concentration of A in the bulk liquid.
Introduce an overall gas-phase mass-transfer coefficient (K
G
) as
(57)
(58)
1

k
p
H
A
k
c
+
1

K
G
Combining (56), (57) and (58):
N
A
= K
G
(p
Ab
- p
A
*

)
(59)
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
16
Introducing overall liquid-phase mass transfer
coefficient:
Once again, lets start from (56).
Introduce the following imaginary liquid-phase concentration:
p
Ab

H
A
C
A
*

where C
A
*

is a concentration that would have been in
equilibrium with the partial pressure of A in the bulk gas.
Introduce an overall liquid-phase mass-transfer coefficient (K
L
) as
(60)
(61)
1

H
A
k
p
1

k
c
+
1

K
L
Combining (56), (60) and (61):
N
A
= K
L
(C
A
*

- C
Ab
)
(62)
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
17
C
Ai
p
Ai
p
Ab

C
Ab
p
A
*
C
A
*
C
A
p
A

p
Ai
= H
A
C
Ai
p
A
*
= H
A
C
Ab
p
Ab
= H
A
C
A
*
Gas-Liquid Equilibrium Partitioning Curve showing the
locations of p
*
A
and C
*
A
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
18
Summary:
where
N
A
= K
L
(C
A
*

- C
Ab
)
= K
G
(p
Ab
- p
A
*
)
1

k
p
H
A
k
c
+
1

K
G
p
A
*

= H
A
C
Ab
C
A
*

= p
Ab

/ H
A
K
L
= =
H
A
(62)
(59)
(60)
(57)
(58 and 61)
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
19
Example 3.20 from Ref. 2 (modified)
Sulfur dioxide (A) is absorbed into water in a packed
column. At a certain location, the bulk conditions are 50
o
C,
2 atm, y
Ab
= 0.085, and x
Ab
= 0.001. Equilibrium data for
SO
2
between air and water at 50
o
C are the following:
p
A
(atm) 0.0382 0.0606 0.1092 0.1700
C
A
(kmol/m
3
) 0.03126 0.04697 0.07823 0.10949
Experimental values of the mass transfer coefficients are
k
c
= 0.18 m/h and k
p
= 0.040 kmol/h.m
2
.kPa.

Compute the mass-transfer flux by assuming an average
Henrys law constant and a negligible bulk flow.
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
20
Solution:
T = 273
o
C + 50
o
C = 323 K; P
T
= 2 atm;
y
Ab
= 0.085; x
Ab
= 0.001;

k
c
= 0.18 m/h; k
p
= 0.040 kmol/h.m
2
.kPa
y = 1.4652x
R
2
= 0.9759
0
0.04
0.08
0.12
0.16
0.2
0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
CA (kmol/m3)
p
A

(
a
t
m
)
H
A
= 1.4652 atm.m
3
/kmol
Data provided:
slope of
the curve
H
A
= 161.61 kPa.m
3
/kmol
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
21
where
N
A
= K
L
(C
A
*

- C
Ab
)
= K
G
(p
Ab
- p
A
*
)
1

k
p
H
A
k
c
+
1

K
G
p
A
*

= H
A
C
Ab
C
A
*

= p
Ab

/ H
A
K
L
= =
H
A
(62)
(59)
(60)
(57)
(58 and 61)
Equations to be used:
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
22
1

k
p
H
A
k
c
+
1

K
G
K
L
= =
H
A
(58 and 61)
1

k
p
=
0.040
1

h.m
2
.kPa/kmol = 25 h.m
2
.kPa/kmol
H
A
k
c
=
0.18 m/h
161.61 kPa.m
3
/kmol
= 897 h.m
2
.kPa/kmol
K
G
= 1/(25 + 897) = 1/922 = 0.001085 kmol/h.m
2
.kPa
K
L
= H
A
K
G
= 161.61/922 = 0.175 m/h
Calculation of overall mass transfer coefficients:
Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
23
N
A
= K
L
(C
A
*

- C
Ab
)
C
A
*

= p
Ab

/ H
A
= y
Ab

P
T
/ H
A
(62) is used to calculate N
A
= 0.085 x 2 atm / 1.4652 atm.m
3
/kmol = 0.1160 kmol/m
3
C
Ab

= x
Ab

C
T
= 0.001 C
T
C
T
= concentration of water (assumed)
= 1000 kg/m
3
= 1000/18 kmol/m
3
= 55.56 kmol/m
3

C
Ab

= 0.001 x 55.56 kmol/m
3
= 0.05556 kmol/m
3
N
A
= (0.175 m/h)

(0.1160 - 0.05556) kmol/m
3

= 0.01058 kmol/m
2
.h


Prof. R. Shanthini
06 Oct 2011
24
N
A
= K
G
(p
Ab
- p
A
*
)
p
A
*

= C
Ab

H
A
= x
Ab

C
T
H
A
(59) is used to calculate N
A
= 0.001 x 55.56 x 161.61 kPa = 8.978 kPa

p
Ab

= y
Ab

P
T
= 0.085 x 2 x 1.013 x 100 kPa = 17.221 kPa
N
A
= (1/922 h.m
2
.kPa/kmol)

(17.221 - 8.978) kPa


= 0.00894 kmol/m
2
.h


Alternatively,