CHAPTER 1

MASS TRANSFER
 INTRODUCTION TO MASS TRANSFER
y Species or matter will slowly move from places of high
concentration to lower concentration.
y General examples of mass transfer process
DIFFUSION
 FICK’S LAW FOR MOLECULAR DIFFUSION
y Fick’s Law stated that for the diffusion of component-A in a binary
mixture of A and B:

dx A dc A
J *
AZ = −cDAB J *
AZ = − DAB
dz dz

Where 
JAZ = molar flux of component A in the z 
direction (kgmol/s⋅m2)
c = total concentration (kgmol/m3)
cA = concentration of A (kgmol/m3)
xA = mol fraction of A
DAB = the molecular diffusivity of the 
molecule A in B (m2/s)
z = distance of diffusion (m)
FICK’S LAW FOR STEADY STATE DIFFUSION OF
A BINARY MIXTURE OF A AND B
For Gas Phase:
dx A
J AZ = −cDAB In term of partial pressure
dz PV=nRT
P/RT=n/V=c
d (C A ) pA1/RT = cA1
J AZ = − DAB
dz
c A1 − c A 2
cA2 J = D
z 2 − z1
AZ AB

∫ dc A

= −D
c A1
J AZ AB zA2 D p A1 − p A 2
J = AB
.
∫ z 2 − z1
AZ
dz RT
z A1

c A 2 − c A1 =
(
DAB p A1 − p A2 )
= −D J AZ
J AZ AB
z 2 − z1 (z2 − z1 )RT
 EXAMPLE 6.1-1
A mixture of He and N2 gas is contained in a pipe at 298 K and
1 atm total pressure which constant throughout. At the end of
the pipe at point 1 the partial pressure pA1 of He is 0.6 atm and
at the other end 0.2 m, pA2=0.2 atm. Calculate the flux of He
at steady state if DAB of He-N2 mixture is 0.687x10- 4m2/s.
Used R=82.057x10-3 m3.atm/(kgmol.K)

Answer: 5.63 x 10-6 kgmol A / s⋅m2

MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN GASES
EQUIMOLAR COUNTERDIFFUSION IN GASES
pA1 pA2
pB1 pB2

PT1 PT2
JA
JB

pA1 > pA2 and pB2 >p B1

J AZ = − J BZ DAB = DBA

different in concentration
gradient…

dc A dc
J AZ = − D AB = − J BZ = −(− DBA B )
dz dz
 EXAMPLE 6.2-1
Ammonia gas (A) is diffusing through a uniform tube 0.1 m long containing N2 gas
(B) at 1.0132 X 105 Pa pressure and 298 K. At point 1, pA1=1.013X104Pa and
point 2 pA2=0.507 X 104 Pa. The diffusivity DAB=0.230X10-4m2/s. Calculate the
flux JA and JB. Used R=82.057x10-3 m3.atm/(kgmol.K)

Answer: JA = 4.70 x 10-7 kgmol A / s⋅m2

JB = -4.70 x 10-7 kg mol B / s⋅m2
DIFFUSION PROCESS TOGETHER WITH CONVECTION
Up to now we consider Fick’s Law for a diffusion in a stationary fluid; that is there has no net
movement or convective flow of the entire phase of the binary mixture A and B

Diffusion flux JA occurred because of the concentration gradient

JA (kg mol A/s.m2)=  vAdCA
vAD = Diffusion velocity of A in m/s

Now let us consider  what happens when the whole fluid is moving in bulk  or convective 
flow to the right. Component A still diffusing to the right, together with the 
moving fluid.v
A Vm =  velocity of the bulk relative to a stationary point
VAd = diffusion velocity of A relative to the moving fluid
vAd                                        vm VA = actual velocity of A relative to a stationary point
Then  VA = VAd + Vm ……..Eq. 1
CAvA=CAvAd + Cavm ……..Eq.2
Multiplying with CA NA=JA + CAvm ……..Eq.3
total flux of A
relative to the stationary  diffusion flux of A convective flux of A
point relative to the moving fluid relative to the stationary point
 Let N  be the total convective flux

N= cvm =NA + NB ……..Eq.4 NA=JA + CAvm ……..Eq.3

vm  = (NA + NB )/c ……..Eq.5

Substituting equation..5 into equation ..3 
NA=JA + CA [(NA + NB )/c]

dx A
J AZ = −cDAB
dz

N A = J A + (N A + N B )
cA Final equation for diffusion 
plus convection to use when 
c the total flux NA is used, which 
is relative to a stationary point
+ (N A + N B )
dx A c A
N A = −cDBA
dz c ………..Eq.6
DIFFUSION THROUGH STAGNANT, NONDIFFUSING
B (GAS DIFFUSION)
- Diffusion of A through stagnant or nondiffusing B at steady state.
- One boundary at the end of diffusion path is impermeable to component B

NB = 0

=0
 cA
N A = J A + (N A + N B )
c ……Eq.7

dx c
N A = −cDBA A + A (N A + 0 ) ……Eq.8
dz c
Substituting c=P/RT, pA=xAP and cA/c=pA/P into Eq. 8
D AB dp A p A
NA = − + NA ……Eq.9
RT dz P
Rearranging and integrating
DAB P P − p A2 ……Eq.10
NA = ln
RT ( z 2 − z1 ) P − p A1

Eq .7 is the final equation to calculated the flux of A. It is often written in another form

P = p A1 + pB1 ……Eq.11
NA =
DAB P
( p A1 − p A2 )
RT ( z2 − z1 ) pBM
P = p A2 + pB 2
p B 2 − p B1 p A1 − p A 2
Where p BM = = ……Eq.12
ln( p B 2 / p B1 ) ln[ ( P − p A 2 ) ]
( P − p A1 )
 cA
NA = JA + (N A + N B )
c
dx c
N A = −cDBA A + A (N A + 0 ) ⎛ ⎞
dz c z2 DAB pA2 ⎜ 1 ⎟
Substituting c=P/RT, pA=xAP and  NA ∫ dz = − ∫ ⎜ ⎟dpA
cA/c=pA/P into Eq. 8 z1 RT pA1 ⎜1− pA ⎟
⎜ ⎟
⎝ P⎠
DAB dpA pA
∫x1 ax+ b = a ln(ax+ b)
NA = − + NA
x2 dx 1
RT dz P
pA DAB dpA DAB P − pA2
NA −
P
NA = −
RT dz NA(z2 − z1 ) = − ln
RT P − pA1
⎛ pA ⎞ DAB dpA
N A ⎜1 − ⎟ = − DAB P − pA2
⎝ P⎠ RT dz NA = − ln
RT(z2 − z1 ) P − pA1
 EXAMPLE 6.2-2
Water in the bottom of narrow metal tube is held at a constant temperature of 293 K.
The total pressure of air is 1.01325 X 105 Pa and the temperature is 293 K. Water
evaporates and diffuses through the air in the tube and the diffusion path z2-z1 is
0.1524m long. Diffusivity is 0.25 X 10-4 m2/s. Vapor pressure of water at 293 K is
2.341 X 103Pa. Calculate the rate of evaporation.
Use R = 8314.34 m3⋅Pa/kgmol⋅K

Answer: 1.595 x 10-7 kgmol / s⋅m2

MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN LIQUIDS
 MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN LIQUIDS
Example diffusion of solutes in liquid:

Liquid-liquid extraction
Gas absorption
Oxygenation of rivers by the air

Since the molecules in a liquid are packed together much more closely than in gases,
the density and the resistance to diffusion in liquid much greater Æ flux in
liquid is lower than flux in a gas

Difference of diffusion in gases with diffusion in liquid Æ

Diffusion in liquid often quite dependent on concentration of the diffusing
components
 EQUIMOLAR COUNTERDIFFUSION IN
LIQUID DIFFUSION
Starting from general equation N = − cD
dx
A
dz
+
c
c
(N +N )
BA
A A
A B

For equimolar counter diffusion NA=‐NB then the equation become

dx A c A1 − c A 2
N A = −cDBA N = D
z 2 − z1
A AB
dz
c A1 − c A2 DAB cav ( x A1 − x A2 )
N A = DAB =
z 2 − z1 z 2 − z1
where
⎛ ρ ⎞ ⎛ ρ1 ρ 2 ⎞
cav = ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜⎜ + ⎟⎟ 2
⎝ M ⎠ av ⎝ M 1 M 2 ⎠
DIFFUSION OF A THROUGH NONDIFFUSING B IN
LIQUID DIFFUSION
Example
Propionic acid (A) in water (B) solution
being contact with toulene

Only propionic acid (A) diffuses through water phase, to the boundary and then into
toulene phase

The toulene – water is a barrier to diffusion of B and NB = 0

D c x − x A2
N A = AB av ln
( z 2 − z1 ) x − x A1
ρ1 / M 1 + ρ 2 / M 2
NA =
DAB cav
(x A1 − x A2 ) cav =
( z 2 − z1 ) xBM 2
where
xB 2 − xB1
xBM = = 1 for dilute solution
ln( xB 2 xB1 )
 Example 6.3-1
An ethanol (A)-water (B) solution in the form of a stagnant film 2.0mm thick at 293
K is in contact at one surface with an organic solvent in which ethanol is soluble and
water insoluble. At point 1 the concentration of ethanol is 16.8 wt% and the solution
density is ρ1 = 972.8 kg/m3. At point 2 the concentration of ethanol is 6.8 wt% and
the solution density is ρ2 = 988.1 kg/m3. The diffusivity of ethanol 0.74 X 10-9
m2/s. Calculate the flux of ethanol NA
Given:
MA = 46.05 kg/kmol
MB = 18.02 kg/kmol

Answer: 8.99 x 10-7 kgmol / s⋅m2

MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN SOLIDS
 MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN SOLIDS
Diffusion of gases, liquid and solid Æin solids are generally slower than rates in
liquids and gases.

Example:
The diffusion of phosphorus and boron into silicon
Diffusion of nitrogen or hydrogen in to the rubber
Diffusion of water into foodstuffs
Reaction process, diffusion of solution into the catalyst

There are two types of diffusion in solid :

y Diffusion in solid following Fick’s law
Æ Diffusion in solids does not depend on the actual structure of the solid
y Diffusion in porous solid where the actual structure and void channels are
important.
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS
 MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT
Fick’s Law for steady state diffusion of a binary mixture A and B, written as:

dx A
J A = −cDAB
dz
Also be written in
JA =
DAB
(c A1 − c A2 )
z2 − z1

J A = k (c A1 − c A2 )
'
c

kc'=constant,
kc’=DAB/dz
Known as mass transfer coefficient
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT FOR EQUIMOLAR
COUNTERDIFFUSION
Equation for mass transfer :
N A = kc' (c A1 − c A2 )
If yA is mole fraction in a gas phase and xA in a liquid phase, then the equation can
be written as follows
Gases : N A = k c' (c A1 − c A 2 ) = k G' ( p A1 − p A 2 ) = k y' ( y A1 − y A 2 )

Liquid : N A = kc' (cA1 − cA2 ) = kL' (cA1 − cA2 ) = k x' ( xA1 − xA2 )

Substituting yA1=cA1/c and yA2=cA2/c into the equation

'
⎛ c A1 c A 2 ⎞ k y
N A = k (c A1 − c A 2 ) = k
' '
( y A1 − y A2 ) = k ⎜
'
− ⎟= (c A1 − c A 2 ) k y'
kc' =
c y y
⎝ c c ⎠ c
c
 MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT FOR A DIFFUSING
THROUGH STAGNANT, NONDIFFUSING B
kc'
NA = (c A1 − c A2 ) = kc (c A1 − c A2 ) xB 2 − xB1
xBM xBM =
where ln( xB 2 / xB1 )
k x'
= (x A1 − x A2 ) = k x (x A1 − x A2 )
xBM

Gases: NA = kc (cA1 − cA2 ) = kG ( pA1 − pA2 ) = ky ( yA1 − yA2 )

Liquids: NA = kc (cA1 − cA2 ) = kL (cA1 − cA2 ) = kx (xA1 − xA2 )

k c' ⎛ c A1 c A 2 ⎞
NA = (c A1 − c A 2 ) = k x (x A1 − x A 2 ) = k x ⎜ − ⎟
x BM ⎝ c c ⎠

k c' kx Refer Table 7.2-1

Hence =
x BM c
 EXAMPLE 7.2-1
A large volume of pure B at 2 atm pressure is flowing over a surface from which pure a is
vaporizing. The liquid A completely wets the surface, which is a blotting paper. Hence the
partial pressure of A at the surface is the vapor pressure at 298 K, which is 0.2 atm. The
k’y has been estimated to be 6.78 X 10-5 kgmol/s.m2.mol frac. Calculate NA the
vaporization rate, ky and kG.

Answer: 7.138 x 10-6 kgmol / s⋅m2

MASS TRANSFER BETWEEN PHASES
 INTERPHASE MASS TRANSFER
Figure 10.4.1

y Assuming solute A is diffusing from the bulk phase G to the liquid phase L, it must
pass through phase G Æ through the interface Æ through phase L in series

y Concentration gradient must be exist to cause this mass transfer through the
resistances in each phase as show in Fig 10.4.1.

y The concentration in the bulk gas phase yAG decreased to yAi at the interface liquid
concentration xAi at interface falls to xAL
 INTERPHASE MASS TRANSFER-EQUIMOLAR
COUNTER DIFFUSION
For equimolar counterdiffusion, the concentration of Fig 10.4-1 can be plotted on
x-y diagram as in Fig 10.4.2

Figure 10.4‐1

Figure 10.4‐2
Point P bulk phase composition yAG, xAL

Point M, interphase concentration yAi and xAi

For A diffusing from the gas to liquid and B in equimolar counterdiffusion from 
liquid to gas,

N A = k ( y AG − y Ai ) = k ( x Ai − x AL )
'
y
'
x
Where: 
' gas‐phase mass transfer coefficient in kg mol/s.m2.mol frac.
k
y
'
k x
liquid‐phase mass transfer coefficient in kg mol/s.m2.mol frac.

Rearranging above Eq.
Slope of PM

k x' y − y Ai
− ' = AG
k y x AL − x Ai
 DIFFUSION OF A THROUGH STAGNANT
FOR NONDIFFUSING B

……Figure 10.4.3

N A = k y ( y AG − y Ai ) = k x ( x Ai − x AL )
Now

ky =
k y'
kx =
k x' Where
(1 − y A )iM =
(1 − y Ai ) − (1 − y AG )
(1 − y A )iM (1 − x A )iM ln[(1 − y Ai ) / (1 − y AG )]

k y' k x' (1 − x A )iM =

(1 − x AL ) − (1 − x Ai )
NA = ( y AG − y Ai ) = (x Ai − x AL ) ln[(1 − x AL ) / (1 − x Ai )]
(1 − y A )iM (1 − x A )iM
Slope of PM
Then
− k x' / (1 − x A )iM ( y AG − y Ai )
=
k y' / (1 − y A )iM (x AL − x Ai )
 EXAMPLE 10.4-1
The solute A is being absorbed from a gas mixture of A and B in a wetted – wall tower with
the liquid flowing as a film downward along the wall. At a certain point in the tower the bulk
gas concentration yAG = 0.380 mol fraction and the bulk liquid concentration is xAL = 0.100.
The tower is operating at 298 K and 1.013 x 105 Pa and the equilibrium data are as follows:

xA 0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35

yA 0 0.022 0.052 0.087 0.131 0.187 0.265 0.385
The solute A diffuses through stagnant B in the gas phase and then through a nondiffusing
liquid. Using correlations for dilute solutions in wetted-wall towers, the film mass-transfer
coefficient for A in the gas phase is predicted as ky = 1.465 x 10-3 kgmol A/s⋅m2⋅mol frac and
for liquid phase as kx = 1.967 x 10-3 kgmol A/s⋅m2⋅mol frac. Calculate the interface
concentration yAi and xAi and the flux NA.

Answer: 3.78 x 10-4 kgmol / s⋅m2

 OVERALL MASS-TRANSFER COEFFICIENT
1. Equimolar Counterdiffusion
The overall mass transfer Kisy' defined as

( ) (
N A = K y' y AG − y *A = K x' x*A − x AL ) Eq.1.7.1

N A = k y' ( y AG − y Ai ) = k x' ( x Ai − x AL ) Eq.1.7.2

From Fig. 10.4.2

(
y AG − y *A = ( y AG − y Ai ) + y Ai − y *A ) Eq.1.7.3

y Ai − y *A
Between point E and M the slope m’ m = '
Eq.1.7.4
x Ai − x AL
Solving Eq.1.7.4 for (y Ai − y *A ) and substituting into Eq. 1.7.3

y AG − y *A = ( y AG − y Ai ) + m ' x Ai − x AL ( ) Eq.1.7.5

Then, on substituting Eq.1.7.1 and 1.7.2 into Eq1.7.5 and canceling out NA

1 1 m'
= +
K y' k y' k x'
2. For diffusion of A through stagnant of nondiffusing B, 
the overall mass transfer coefficient as follows 

1 1 m'
= ' + '
K y' / (1 − y A )*M k y / (1 − y A )iM k x / (1 − x A )iM

) = (1 − y ) − (1 − y )
*
Where…
(1 − y A *M A

ln[(1 − y ) / (1 − y )]
AG
*
A AG
 EXAMPLE 10.4-2
Using the same data as in Example 10.4-1, calculate the overall mass-
transfer coefficient Ky’, the flux, and the percent resistance in the gas and
liquid films. Do this for the case of A diffusing through stagnant B.

Answer: 3.78 x 10-4 kgmol / s⋅m2

THE END!