Principles of Chemical Engineering

Mass Transfer

Dr. M. Subramanian

Department of Chemical Engineering

SSN College of Engineering

July 8, 2021
Syllabus Contents

Mass transfer operation

Diffusion
Objectives

I To introduce the term “Mass Transfer”.

I To give an overview of diffusion.

I To give an overview about mass transfer coefficient.

Introduction to Mass Transfer

I Mass transfer is the study of the transfer of a component in a

homogeneous mixture from one phase to another coexisting
phase, or within the same phase from a region of high
concentration to low concentration.
I Transfer of a component from one phase to the another is due
to the difference of chemical potential (µ) of a component in
the coexisting phases.
I The direction of mass transfer is from higher chemical
potential to lower chemical potential. If µαi > µβi , component
i transfers from α to β phase.
I Chemical potential (µ) is a conceptual property. It can be
expressed in terms of measurable properties such as mole
fraction, concentration, pressure, vapor pressure etc.
Introduction to Mass Transfer (contd..)

I Phase equilibrium (same T and P for the coexisting phases)

determines an upper limit for mass transfer. At equilibrium,
the chemical potential of a component is same in both the
coexisting phases.
µαi = µβi
For vapor-liquid equilibrium of ideal solutions,

yi P = xi Pisat Raoult’s law

In a simpler way, equilibrium relationship can be expressed as

yi = mxi
Importance of Mass Transfer

I Mass transfer operations are directed towards separating a

substance into its component parts.

I For mixtures, such separations may be entirely mechanical, e.g.

the filtrations of a solid from a suspension in a liquid, or the
separation of particles of a solid mixture according to their
density. These aspects are covered in Mechanical Unit
Operations (or, simply Mechanical Operations).

I On the other hand, if the operations involve changes in

composition of solutions, they are known as Mass Transfer
operations.
Introduction to Mass Transfer (contd..)

I The importance of mass-transfer operations in chemical

engineering is profound. There is scarcely any chemical
process which does not require either a preliminary
purification of raw materials or a final separation of products
from by-products, and for these, mass-transfer operations are
commonly used. Frequently, the separations constitute a
major part of the costs of a process.

I Examples for Mass Transfer Operations: Absorption,

Adsorption, Distillation, Extraction, Leaching, Humidification,
Drying.
Examples for Mass Transfer Operations

I Absorption: removal of H2 S from natural gas by absorption

with monoethanolamine or diethanolamine solutions.
I Stripping: removal of oxygen from water (for use with
electronic material processing) by contacting with a nitrogen
gas.
I Distillation: (i) separation of benzene and toluene from a
solution of benzene-toluene, (ii) fractionation of petroleum
crude oil.
I Extraction: (i) removal of adipic acid from water using
diethyl ether, (i) removal of mercaptants from naphtha by
NaOH solution.
I Adsorption: (i) removal of odor / color from materials, using
activated carbon, (ii) removal of moisture from air using silica.
Absorption - Adsorption

Absorption of solutes happens in the bulk of the liquid. Adsorption

of solutes happens on the surface of the solid.
Mass Transfer Rate

NA = k∆CA = k(CA − CA∗ )

where
NA = mass transfer flux of component A, mol/(area.time)
k = mass transfer coefficient
CA = bulk concentration of A
CA∗ = equilibrium concentration of A
There are various forms of concentration measures, such as
mol/ltr, partial pressure, mole fraction, mole ratio, etc.
Diffusion
Diffusion
Diffusion
Fick’s first law

Diffusion is the process by which molecules, ions, or other small

particles spontaneously mix, moving from regions of relatively high
concentration into regions of lower concentration.

The molar flux (mol/area.time) due to diffusion of a constituent A

relative to the average velocity of all constituents, is given by
Fick’s first law as
∂CA
Molar flux = −DAB
∂z
DAB = diffusivity or diffusion coefficient of component A in B
CA = concentration of A
z = distance
Fick’s first law is applicable to steady state system.
Diffusion
Fick’s second law

∂CA ∂ 2 CA
= DAB
∂t ∂z 2
This describes the transient diffusion phenomenon.

This tells us that rate of change of concentration at a specific time

and position is proportional to the second derivative of
concentration profile.
Diffusivity and Mass Transfer Coefficient
Diffusivity and Mass Transfer Coefficient (contd..)
Diffusivity and Mass Transfer Coefficient (contd..)

Hydrogen diffusion into a metal: This process can be described

with either a mass transfer coefficient (k), or a diffusion coefficient
(DAB ).

I The description with a diffusion coefficient correctly predicts

the variation of concentration with position and time, and so
is superior.

I Whereas, the description with mass transfer coefficient

predicts the variation, only with time.
Mass Transfer Models based on Diffusivity and Mass
Transfer Coefficient
The model based on the diffusion coefficient gives results of more
fundamental value than the model based on mass transfer
coefficients. In mathematical terms, the diffusion model is said to
have distributed parameters, for the dependent variable (the
concentration) is allowed to vary with all independent variables
(like position and time). In contrast, the mass transfer model is
said to have lumped parameters (like the average concentration in
the metal).

The diffusion model is more fundamental and is appropriate when

concentrations are measured or needed versus both position and
time. The mass transfer model is simpler and more approximate
and is especially useful when only average concentrations are
involved.
Diffusion Coefficient
I Diffusion coefficients in gases lie between 0.1 and 1 cm2 /s.
I DO2 −He = 0.822 cm2 /s
I DO2 −benzene = 0.101 cm2 /s
I Diffusion coefficients in liquid fall close to 10−5 cm2 /s.
Diffusion coefficients in liquids are about ten thousand times
slower than those in dilute gases.
I DH2 −water = 4.5 × 10−5 cm2 /s
I Dacetone−water = 1.21 × 10−5 cm2 /s
I Dethanol−water = 0.84 × 10−5 cm2 /s
I Diffusion coefficients in solids will be lower than in liquids,
about 10−30 cm2 /s.
I DH2 −Fe = 2 × 10−9 cm2 /s
I DC−Fe = 6 × 10−21 cm2 /s
I DZn−Cu = 2 × 10−38 cm2 /s
Diffusion Coefficient (contd..)

I Diffusion coefficients in polymer and glasses lie between solid

and liquid values, say about 10−8 cm2 /s.

I The low values of diffusion coefficient means that diffusion

often limits the overall rate of processes occurring in liquids.
Diffusion limits the rate of acid-base reactions. In physiology,
diffusion limits the rates of digestion.
Quiz

1. Define ‘mass transfer’.

2. What is the driving force for mass transfer?
3. Give examples for mass transfer operations.
4. Compare between ‘absorption’ and ‘adsorption’.
5. Write the equation for mass transfer flux in terms of diffusivity.
6. Write the equation for mass transfer flux in terms of mass
transfer coefficient.
7. Compare between ‘diffusivity model’ and ‘mass transfer
coefficient model’ of predicting mass transfer flux.
8. Compare the rate of diffusion of a species in gas, liquid and
solid phases.