KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2019/2020
FOURTH YEAR SEMESTER ONE EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

COURSE NAME: BASIC MASS TRANSFER PROCESSES

COURSE CODE: SCE 4101

DATE: TIME:

TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS

Instructions to candidates:
1. The paper contains SEVEN questions
2. Answer any FIVE questions.
3. Start each question on afresh page.
4. Do not write anything on the question paper.
QUESTION ONE

(a) Write short notes on the following processes as applied in mass transfer
i. Membrane separation
ii. Distillation
iii. Leaching
iv. Fractional crystallization
v. Gas absorption [3 marks each]
(b) Explain the concept of the two film resistance theory. [5 marks]

QUESTION TWO

(a) Nitrogen gas is diffusing at a constant rate through a layer of stagnant air 1 mm thick.
Conditions are such that the gas contains 50 percent by volume nitrogen at one boundary
of the stagnant layer. The nitrogen diffusing to the other boundary is quickly absorbed
and the concentration is negligible at that plane. The temperature is 295 K and the
pressure atmospheric, and under these conditions the diffusivity of nitrogen in air is 0.2
cm2/s. Estimate the rate of diffusion of nitrogen through the layer. [8
marks]

(b) Ammonia is to be removed from a 15 percent ammonia–air mixture by countercurrent

scrubbing with water in a packed tower at 293 K so that 99 percent of the ammonia is
removed when working at a total pressure of 101.3 kN/m 2. If the gas rate is 0.85 kg/m 2.s
of tower cross-section and the liquid rate is 0.75 kg/m 2. s, find the necessary height of the
tower if the absorption coefficient KoG.a = 0.008 kmol/m 3.s. kPa., The equilibrium data
are: Y∗ = 0.8 X . [12 marks]

QUESTION THREE

(a) State the Fick’s law of diffusion and explain the meaning of the symbols [4 marks]
(b) Show that the relationship between the individual phase mass transfer coefficient and the
overall mass transfer coefficients take the form of additional of resistance i.e.
 1 1 m'
= + [10 marks]
K y k y kx

(c) Explain any 3 characteristics of packing materials commonly applicable in the packed
towers [6 marks]

QUESTION FOUR

(a) For a system in which component (A) is transferring from the liquid to the gas phase, the
equilibrium is given by 𝐲𝐀∗ = 0.75 𝐱𝐀. At one point in the appartus the liquid contain 90
mol% of (A) and gas contain 45 mol% of (A). The individual gas film mass transfer
coefficient at this point in the appartus of 0.02716 kmol/m 2.s , and 70% of the overall
resistance to mass transfer is known to be encountered in the gas film: determine:
(i) The molar flux of (A). [5 marks]
(ii) The interfacial concentration of (A). [4 marks]
(iii) . The overall mass transfer coefficient for liquid and gas phases. [5 marks]
(b) With a labeled schematic diagram, describe the operation of a tray tower. [6 marks]

QUESTION FIVE

A tube 1cm inside diameter that is 20cm long is filled with CO 2 and H2 at a total pressure of 2
atm at 0oC. The coefficient of diffusion of the CO 2 - H2 system under these conditions is
0.285cm2/s. if the partial pressure of CO 2 is 1.5 atm at one end of the tube and 0.5 atm at the
other end, find the rate of diffusion for:

(a) Steady state equimolar counter diffusion (NA = -NB) [8 marks]

(b) Steady state counter diffusion where NB = -0.75NA [12 marks]

QUESTION SIX

a) What are the factors that would influence the choice of a solvent for an absorption operation?
[7 marks]
b) What are some of the factors one should put into consideration when designing an absorber
or a stripper? [5
marks]
c) What is Marphree stage efficiency of a mass transfer operation [3 marks]
d) What is the difference between concurrent and counter-current mass transfer operations?
[5 marks]

QUESTION SEVEN

The concentration of ammonia - air mixture is reduced from 5% to 1% (volume percent) by

scrubbing the mixture with fresh water in a plate column. The water and air rates are 0.65 and
0.40 kg/m2.S respectively. If a plate efficiency of 80% is used and the equilibrium relationship
obtained is Y=X, where X is the mole ratio in the liquid phase

i) Calculate the exit water concentration.

ii) Calculate the number of real equilibrium stages needed.
iii) What would the minimum flow rate of the absorbent of water needed to effect the
above absorption when the gas flow rates remain unchanged? [20
marks]

END