HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

MASS TRANSFER EQUATIONS CONCEPTS

● The General Mass Transfer Equation

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑥 = 𝑀𝑇𝐶 × 𝐷𝐹
MTC = mass transfer coefficient
DF = driving force
❏ Concentration Difference - 𝛥𝐶𝐴 (𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)
❏ Mole Fraction Difference - 𝛥𝑌𝐴 (𝑔𝑎𝑠) , 𝛥𝑋𝐴 (𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)
❏ Partial Pressure Difference - 𝛥𝑃𝐴 (𝑔𝑎𝑠)

MTC AND DF TABLES

❖ Case 1: UMD (Unimolecular Diffusion)

MTC DF

𝑘𝐺 𝛥𝑃𝐴

𝑘𝑌 𝛥𝑌𝐴

𝑘𝐶 𝛥𝐶𝐴 (𝑔𝑎𝑠)

𝑘𝐿 𝛥𝐶𝐴 (𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)

𝑘𝑋 𝛥𝑋𝐴

❖ Case 2: EMD (Equimolar Diffusion)

MTC DF

𝑘′𝐺 𝛥𝑃𝐴

𝑘′𝑌 𝛥𝑌𝐴

𝑘′𝐶 𝛥𝐶𝐴 (𝑔𝑎𝑠)

𝑘′𝐿 𝛥𝐶𝐴 (𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)

𝑘′𝑋 𝛥𝑋𝐴
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

MASS TRANSFER EQUATIONS

❖ Case 1

GAS EQUATION LIQUID EQUATION

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝛥𝑃𝐴 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝛥𝐶𝐴

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑌 𝛥𝑌𝐴 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑋 𝛥𝑋𝐴

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐶 𝛥𝐶𝐴

❖ Case 2

GAS EQUATION LIQUID EQUATION

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘′𝐺 𝛥𝑃𝐴 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘′𝐿 𝛥𝐶𝐴

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘′𝑌 𝛥𝑌𝐴 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘′𝑋 𝛥𝑋𝐴

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘′𝐶 𝛥𝐶𝐴

RELATIONS OF MTC

● UMD
𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑃
𝑘𝐺 =
𝑅𝑇𝛥𝑧𝑃𝐵𝑚

● EMB
𝐷𝐴𝐵
𝑘′𝐺 =
𝑅𝑇𝛥𝑧
Therefore,
𝑃
𝑘′𝐺 = 𝑘𝐺 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑌𝐵𝑚
𝑃𝐵𝑚
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

PRINCIPLES OF MASS TRANSFER

Molecular diffusion
- transport by individual molecular motion
- the movement of the quantity of a component(s) through a medium
- From a high to low concentration

Basic Types of Diffusion

1. Molecular Diffusion (Ji) - movement is due to difference in concentration
- Unit: mole/area-time
2. Convective Diffusion (Ei) - due to mechanical means (change in velocity)
- Unit: mole/area-time
3. Diffusion Rate/Molar Flux (Ni)
❖ Ni = Ji + Ei

Unimolecular diffusion - Mass transfer of component A occurs through stagnant component B.

Binary Counter Diffusion - is an instance of molecular diffusion in a binary mixture and occurs
when equal numbers of molecules of the two substances are moving in opposite directions.

Diffusion Applications
● Distillation
● Gas Absorption - gas-liquid interface
● Liquid Extraction - liquid-liquid interface
● Leaching
● Drying
● Adsorption - liquid-solid interface

Note: When mass is transferred from one distinct phase to another or through a single phase,
the basic mechanisms are the same whether the phase is a gas, liquid or solid.

Binary Diffusion
- Involves diffusion involving a system composed of only two components, A and B.
- The molar fluxes of A and B may be related to the molecular (J) and convective (E)
fluxes
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑥 = 𝐽 + 𝐸
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐽𝐴 + 𝐸𝐴
𝑁𝐵 = 𝐽𝐵 + 𝐸𝐵
Let N = net molar flux = 𝑁𝐴 + 𝑁𝐵
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

- Flux is dependent on direction. If B is moving opposite of A: 𝑁𝐵 = −𝑁𝐴

- Molecular diffusion is based on Fick’s Law
- For unidirectional transfer in the z direction:

−𝑑𝐶𝐴
𝐽𝐴 = 𝐷𝐴𝐵
𝑑𝑧
−𝑑𝐶𝐵
𝐽𝐵 = 𝐷𝐵𝐴
𝑑𝑧
Where: DAB = mass diffusivity of A in B; Unit: L2/time

Useful Tables:
Evaluation of Mass Diffusivity
● Gaseous Systems - 2-141 9th ed.
● Liquid Systems - 2-142 9th ed.
● Rules of Thumb for Diffusivities - 5-10 9th ed.
● Pertinent Equations - 5-11 9th ed.
● Correlations for Diffusivities of Dilute, Binary Mixtures of Nonelectrolytes in Liquids - 5-14
9th ed.

Fuller-Schettling-Gillings Equation (Non-Polar Gases)

Note: MAB = (1/MA) + (1/MB); DAB in cm2/s; P in atm; vA and vB from Atomic Diffusion Volume
(Table 5-13 9th ed.)

Polar molecules - water, ammonia, sulfur, dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide

Wike-Chang Equation (Dilute, Nonelectrolyte Liquid Mixtures)

HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

General Diffusion Flux Equation

𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝜌𝑚 𝑅 − 𝑋𝐴2
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑅𝑙𝑛
𝛥𝑧 𝑅 − 𝑋𝐴1
𝑁𝐴
where: 𝑅 = 𝑁 + 𝑁𝐵
𝐴

Diffusion Cases
● Unimolecular Diffusion of A (UMD)
- NB = 0 (B is stationary)
- R=1
● Equimolal Counter Diffusion (EMD)
- NA = - NB
- N=0

UMD of A and B
𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝜌𝑚 1 − 𝑋𝐴2
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑅𝑙𝑛
𝛥𝑧 1 − 𝑋𝐴1

EMD of A and B
𝐷𝐴𝐵 (𝐶𝐴1 − 𝐶𝐴2 ) 𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝜌𝑚 (𝑋𝐴1 − 𝑋𝐴2 )
𝑁𝐴 = =
𝛥𝑧 𝛥𝑧

Other Equation Forms

1. Ideal Gaseous Systems
𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑃 1−𝑦
UMD: 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑅𝑇𝛥𝑧
𝑙𝑛 1−𝑦𝐴2 where: y = mole fraction
𝐴1
𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑃 𝑃−𝑃 𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑃 𝑃
In terms of partial pressure: 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑅𝑇𝛥𝑧
𝑙𝑛 𝑃−𝑃𝐴2 = 𝑅𝑇𝛥𝑧
𝑙𝑛 𝑃𝐵2
𝐴1 𝐵1

𝐷𝐴𝐵 (𝐶𝐴1 −𝐶𝐴2 ) 𝐷𝐴𝐵 (𝑃𝐴1 −𝑃𝐴2 )

EMD: 𝑁𝐴 = 𝛥𝑧
= 𝑅𝑇𝛥𝑧
2. Liquid Systems
𝜌𝑆1 𝜌𝑆2
𝜌𝑚 = 0.5 |
+ |
𝑀𝑆1 𝑀𝑆2
𝜌𝑚 = density of solution; 𝑀𝑆 = mol. wt. of solution

PSYCHROMETRY
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

Gas Liquid Contact Equation

Usual Equipments: Packed Towers

● Adiabatic Humidification - increase moisture content/humidity

● Dehumidification
● Cooling Tower Operation

PSYCHROMETRY
- Determination of the properties of gas-vapor mixtures

Useful Tables:
● Table 2-5 (pressure)

● Table 2-48 (KCl)

● Table 12-4 (Thermodynamic Properties of Air)
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

Useful Charts:
● 12-1 (Grosvenor Chart) - high temperatures; Temperature vs Humidity
● 12-2 (Grosvenor Chart) - medium temperatures; Temperature vs Humidity
● 12-3 (Mollier Chart) - Enthalpy vs Humidity
● 12-4 (Grosvenor Chart) - high temperatures; Temperature vs Humidity

Basic Properties

1. Dry Bulb Temperature (t)

- Actual temperature of air
- Unit: oC
2. Absolute Humidity (H or Y)
- Weight of A per Weight of B
𝑃𝐴 𝑀𝐴
𝐻=𝑌= ( )
𝑃 − 𝑃𝐴 𝑀𝐵
3. Saturation Humidity (𝐻𝑆 𝑜𝑟 𝑌𝑆 )
- Absolute humidity at saturation
𝑃𝑆 𝑀𝐴
𝐻𝑆 = 𝑌𝑆 = ( )
𝑃 − 𝑃𝑆 𝑀𝐵

* Can use Table 2-5 to get pressure

4. Percent Relative Humidity (%RH)

𝑃𝐴
%𝑅𝐻 = 𝑥 100
𝑃𝑆
5. Percent Humidity (%H)
𝑌
%𝐻 = 𝑥 100
𝑌𝑆
6. Dew Point (𝑡𝑑𝑒𝑤 )
- Temperature attained by the gas if it is made saturated at constant humidity
- 𝑌 = 𝑌𝑆
- Unit: oC
7. Humid Heat (𝐶𝑆 )
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

- Specific heat of moist air per weight of dry gas

𝐶𝑆 = 1 + 1.9𝑌
- Unit: kJ/kg-K
8. Humid Volume (𝑉𝐻 )
- The specific volume of the mixture per weight of dry gas
𝑅𝑇 1 𝑌
𝑉𝐻 = 𝑥 ( + )
𝑃 𝑀𝐵 𝑀𝐴
- Unit: m3/kg
9. Humid Enthalpy (H or i)
- Enthalpy of mixture per weight of dry gas
𝐻 = 1.0𝑡 + 𝑌(1.9𝑡 + 25001)
- Unit: kJ/kg, J/kg, BTU/lb
10. Adiabatic Saturation Temperature (𝑡𝑎𝑠 )
- The temperature attained by a gas if it is made saturated by spraying with liquid
under adiabatic conditions
𝐶𝑠𝑚 (𝑡 − 𝑡𝑎𝑠 ) = 𝜆𝑎𝑠 (𝑌𝑎𝑠 − 𝑌)
O
- Unit: C
11. Wet Bulb Temperature (𝑡𝑤𝑏 )
- The steady state temperature attained by a small mass of liquid exposed in a
continuous stream of a gas under adiabatic conditions
- 𝑡𝑎𝑠 = 𝑡𝑤𝑏
- Unit: OC
To get 𝑡𝑤𝑏 :
1. Assume 𝑡𝑤𝑏
2. Get 𝑃𝑤𝑏 from table 2-5
3. Use equation
𝑃 = 𝑃𝑤𝑏 − 𝐴𝑃(𝑡 − 𝑡𝑤𝑏 )
where 𝐴 = 6.5𝑥10−4 (1 + 0.000944𝑡𝑤𝑏 )

Simplifying, 𝑃𝑤(𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏) = 𝑃𝑤𝑏 − {[6.5𝑥10−4 (1 + 0.000944𝑡𝑤𝑏 )]𝑃(𝑡 − 𝑡𝑤𝑏 )}

4. Check 𝑡𝑤𝑏(𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑) = 𝑡𝑤𝑏(𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑)

INTERPHASE MASS TRANSFER APPLIED TO PACKED COLUMNS

Gas Absorption
❖ is a unit operation used in the chemical industry to separate gases by washing or
scrubbing a gas mixture with a suitable liquid.
❖ Gas-liquid absorption is a heterogeneous process in which it involves the transfer of a
soluble component of a gas phase into a relatively non-volatile liquid absorbent.
❖ One or more of the constituents of the gas mixture dissolves or is absorbed in the liquid
and can thus be removed from the mixture.
❖ The fundamental physical principles underlying gas absorption are:
➢ The Solubility of the absorbed gas in the liquid
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

➢ The rate of mass transfer

❖ The gas mixture consists of a hazardous gas combined with air. Ex: Gas-liquid
absorption under physical absorption: Washing of ammonia from the mixture of
ammonia and air by means of liquid water
❖ Only the air will be emitted in the atmosphere after gas-liquid absorption since the
hazardous gas in the mixture is dissolved or is absorbed by the solvent.
❖ Others are classified under chemical absorption

2 Types of absorption processes:

❖ Physical absorption - water and hydrocarbon oils are used as absorbents
❖ Chemical absorption - reaction between the solute and the solvent (absorbent).

Criteria in the Selection of an Absorbent

❖ Gas solubility - High. High solubility is preferred, utilizing low quantities of solvent
absorbent should not dissolve carrier gas (usually air). Similar chemical nature of solute
in absorbent gives good solubility.
❖ Volatility - Low. Low volatility or low vapor pressure of the solvent enhances the
adsorption operation as solvent loss with carrier gas is very small. Sometimes a second
less volatile solvent is used to recover the first solvent.
❖ Viscosity - Low. For better absorption a solvent of low viscosity is required. In
mechanically agitated absorbers, greater amount of power is required for high viscous
solvent and flooding is also caused at lower liquid and gas flow rates.
❖ Corrosiveness - Less. Non-corrosive/less corrosive solvent reduces equipment
construction cost as well as maintenance cost.
❖ Cost - Low. Solvent should be cheap (like liquid water) so that losses will be insignificant
and should be easily available.
❖ Toxicity and Hazard – non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-flammable, chemically stable

Wetted Wall Column

❖ Used as absorbers for Hydrochloric acid, Ammonia, Acetone, Benzene and other volatile
liquids.
❖ Height is excessive. Thus, not used in handling large quantities of liquid or gas.
❖ Used in Chem Engg lab to find the mass transfer coefficient (k)

Packed Column Gas Absorbers

❖ Uses media surfaces that enhance the absorption of the solute in the gas by the liquid.
❖ Utilized by refineries and other chemical industries
❖ Hazardous gas wastes are treated through the process of absorption
❖ Piece of pipe set on its end and filled with an inert material (packing materials).
❖ Gas mixture enters from the bottom and the absorbent is fed from the top of the
absorber.
❖ Usually carried out in vertical countercurrent columns.
❖ The solute is recovered from the liquid by distillation and the absorbing liquid may be
discarded or reused.
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

❖ The gas concentration of the solute decreases as it exits at the top of the column while
the liquid concentration of solute increases as it exits at the bottom of the column.
❖ Similarly, gas concentration of the solute decreases and the liquid concentration of the
solute increases, but in this set-up they both exit at the top of the column.

Application: Gas Absorption (Binary System)

For the gas phase: NAG = ky(y - yi)
For the liquid phase: NAL = kx(xi - x)
At the interface: (xi, yi) is an equilibrium point

Equilibrium Relations
𝑃𝐴𝑜
❖ Ideal System (Ideal Gas, Raoult’s Law): 𝑦 = 𝑃
𝐻
❖ Dilute System (Ideal Gas, Henry’s Law): 𝑦 = 𝐴 where: HA = Henry’s constant
𝑃𝑥
𝑃 𝐶 𝐶 100
❖ Common Solubility Data: 𝑦 = 𝑃𝐴 ; 𝑥 = 𝑀𝐴 /(𝑀𝐴 + 18 ) where: CA = wt. solute/100 wts water
𝐴 𝐴

Equilibrium Line Analysis:

a. Linear in Y vs X for ideal and dilute systems
𝑉′(𝑌 − 𝑌2 ) = 𝐿′(𝑋 − 𝑋2 )
b. Non-linear in y vs x using HB data
𝑦 𝑥
𝑉′( − 𝑌2 ) = 𝐿′( − 𝑋2 )
1−𝑦 1−𝑥

𝑥 𝑦
Mole Ratios: 𝑋 = 1−𝑥;𝑌 = 1−𝑦
At steady state: NAG = NAL
Equation 1: 𝑘𝑦 (𝑦 − 𝑦𝑖 ) = 𝑘𝑥 (𝑥 − 𝑥𝑖 )

Overall Mass Transfer Coefficients

❖ The use of interface compositions is tedious due to tie line construction.
❖ Overall Mass Transfer Coefficients are introduced using a driving force based on
difference between actual composition and equilibrium composition.
❖ A capital symbol is used to represent the overall mass transfer coefficient (K)
❖ When overall mass transfer coefficient is used to set up the mass transfer equation we
use y* and x* instead of the equilibrium compositions yi and xi:
➢ 𝑁𝐴𝐺 = 𝐾𝑦 (𝑦 − 𝑦 ∗ )
➢ 𝑁𝐴𝐿 = 𝐾𝑥 (𝑥 ∗ − 𝑥)
where: y* is based on x and x* is based on y

Relationship:
1 1 𝑚
= +
𝐾𝑌 𝑘𝑌 𝑘𝑥

The Packed Column

HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

- Use of media surfaces that enhances the absorption of the solute in the gas by the liquid

● Packings
- Solid materials used to provide contact between the gas and the liquid in the
column

❖ Common Types of Packing (Table 14-54, 14-55)

➢ Rings (Table 14-13)
➢ Saddles
➢ Tallerettes
❖ Packing Characteristics
➢ Material
➢ Size
➢ Surface Area per Volume
➢ Packing Factor
❖ Requirements of Packing
➢ Large surface area
➢ High interfacial area between gas and structure
➢ Open structure
➢ Low resistance to gas flow
➢ Promote uniform liquid distribution on the packing surface
➢ Promote uniform gas flow across the column section

● Flooding Velocity (𝐺𝐹 )

- Mass velocity of the entering gas sufficient to cause liquid accumulation in the packed
column that will lead to flooding
- Mass velocity of the entering gas must be less than the flooding velocity to avoid
flooding

𝐺𝑉1 = 𝑓𝑔𝐺𝐹

𝐺𝑉1 = entering gas mass velocity

f = fraction; if not given, f = 0.62

● DETERMINATION OF FLOODING VELOCITY

HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

● For CP
HEMATRA REVIEWER FINALS

● PROCEDURE FOR COLUMN DIAMETER