Mass Transfer

CHE304

Chapter 27
Convective Mass Transfer
Between Phases
Dr Mohammed Gamal Mohammed

1
Convection M.T. Between Phases

• Convection mass transfer can take place between two phases (gas-
liquid, liquid-liquid) through a boundary.

• The composition of the component in different phases is expressed

using different units (partial pressure, concentration, mole fraction, …
etc.). This is different from heat transfer.

2
Convective Heat Transfer Between Phases
In case of heat transfer between phases, liquid and gas as in this
case we can express the heat transfer flux as follows:
𝑞 = ℎ𝐿 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑠 = ℎ𝑔 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞

Interface temperature is hard to measure, so we can express the flux

in terms of bulk concentrations:
𝑞 = 𝑈 𝑇 − 𝑇∞
Where
1 1 1
= +
𝑈 ℎ𝐿 ℎ𝑔

Equilibrium is achieved when 𝑇 − 𝑇∞ = 0

3
 Convective Mass Transfer Between Phases
Consider an absorption process where species A transfers by convection
from gas phase to liquid phase.
we can express the diffusion mass transfer as follows:
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝑐 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴
However, interfacial concentrations are not possible to measure in most
cases, so bulk concentrations must be used.
In this case it is not possible to repeat what we did in heat transfer since
the unit of concentration in gas phase is not the same unit in liquid phase.
We cannot express the driving force as 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑐𝐴
We CANNOT say that 𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝑐𝐴𝑖 although they are on opposite sides of the
same boundary
One more information is needed, it is called “Equilibrium Relation”

4
Equilibrium Relation
• It is a relation that represents the equilibrium compositions of the same species
in two contacting phases

• This relation is extremely important in all mass transfer operations as it indicates

the actual driving force and consequently the number of contacting stages
needed.

• This relation can be produced experimentally or theoretically from

thermodynamic equilibrium calculations.

5
Equilibrium Data Experimentally

Solute conc. in Solute partial

liquid pressure in vapor
𝒄𝑨 𝒑𝑨
- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

6
Plotting Experimental Results

7
Theory-Based Equilibrium Relations
• Equations relating the equilibrium concentrations in the two phases are
presented in physical chemistry and thermodynamic textbooks.

• For the case of nonideal gas and liquid phases, the relations are generally
complex.

• However, in cases involving ideal gas and liquid phases, some simple relations can
be used.

8
Equilibrium Relation Examples: Raoult’s Law
For ideal liquids, we can use Raoult’ law:
𝑝𝐴 = 𝑥𝐴 𝑃𝐴𝑠𝑎𝑡
This is an equilibrium relation between A in gas phase with partial pressure 𝑝𝐴 and liquid phase with
mole fraction 𝑥𝐴
For ideal gas, Dalton’s law can be applied:
𝑝𝐴 = 𝑦𝐴 𝑃

For ideal gas contacting an ideal liquid, Dalton and Raoult’s laws can be combined:
𝑦𝐴 𝑃 = 𝑥𝐴 𝑃𝐴𝑠𝑎𝑡
Equilibrium relation where concentrations in both phases are expressed in mole fractions.

9
Equilibrium Relation Examples: Henry’s Law

10
Equilibrium Relation Examples: Henry’s Law
For gas liquid equilibrium in case of dilute solutions, Henry’s law can be used:
𝑝𝐴 = 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝐿
𝐻 is Henry’s constant in units of pressure/concentration (cm3.atm/ gmol). This relation is valid for low liquid-
phase concentration.

Given than 𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 𝑥𝐴 𝐶𝐿 , Henry’s can be written as:

𝑝𝐴 = 𝐻. 𝐶𝐿 𝑥𝐴 = 𝐻𝑥 𝑥𝐴
The term 𝐻𝑥 = 𝐻. 𝐶𝐿 is also Henry’s constant with units of (partial pressure)
If the gas phase is ideal, Henry’s law will take the form:
𝑦𝐴 𝑃 = 𝐻. 𝐶𝐿 𝑥𝐴
𝐻. 𝐶𝐿
𝑦𝐴 = 𝑥𝐴 = 𝑚 𝑥𝐴
𝑃
𝑚 is the equilibrium distribution coefficient.
11
Examples of Equilibrium Relations
• In distillation:
𝑦𝐴 = 𝑘𝐴 𝑥𝐴
𝑦𝐴 is mole fraction in gas phase, 𝑥𝐴 is mole fraction in liquid phase, 𝑘𝐴 is the equilibrium constant.
• In absorption and stripping:
𝑌𝐴 = 𝑚𝑋𝐴
𝑌𝐴 is the mole ratio of solute in the gas phase, 𝑋𝐴 is the mole ratio of the solute in the solvent.
• In adsorption (adsorption isotherms):
𝐾𝑞𝑚 𝑝𝐴
𝑞𝐴 =
1 + 𝐾𝑝𝐴
𝑞𝐴 is the solute loading on the adsorbent, 𝑝𝐴 is the partial pressure of adsorbent in gas phase, 𝑞𝑚 and
𝐾 are constants.

12
Steps of Mass Transfer Between Phases
Transfer across an interface takes place
through three steps:
1. The transfer of mass from the bulk
conditions of one phase to the
interfacial surface
2. The transfer across the interface into
the second phase
3. The transfer to the bulk conditions of
the second phase.

13
Two-Film Resistance Theory
The theory has two principal assumptions:
(1) The rate of mass transfer between the two phases is controlled by the rates of diffusion through the phases
on each side of the interface
(2) No resistance is offered to the transfer of the diffusing component across the interface, 𝑝𝐴𝑖 is in equilibrium
with 𝑐𝐴𝑖 .

14
 Nomenclature
𝑐𝐴𝐿 Concentration of component A in bulk liquid phase
𝑥𝐴 Mole fraction of component A in bulk liquid phase
𝑝𝐴∗ Partial pressure in equilibrium with 𝑐𝐴𝐿 (**)
𝑦𝐴∗ Mole fraction in equilibrium with 𝑥𝐴 (**)
𝑐𝐴𝑖 Concentration of component A at liquid interface
Gas Phase
Driving Force
𝑥𝐴𝑖 Mole fraction of component A at liquid interface
Overall
Driving
Force
𝑝𝐴𝑖 Partial pressure of component A at gas interface
Liquid Phase
Driving Force
𝑦𝐴𝑖 Mole fraction of component A at gas interface
𝑝𝐴 Partial pressure of component A in bulk gas phase
𝑐𝐴 Concentration of component A in bulk gas phase
𝑦𝐴 Mole fraction of component A in bulk gas phase
𝑐𝐴∗ Concentration in equilibrium with 𝑝𝐴 (**)
(**) Imaginary parameter
𝑥𝐴∗ Mole fraction in equilibrium with 𝑦𝐴 (**) 15
Individual Film M.T. Coefficient
The steady state diffusion mass transfer can be expressed
mathematically based on the gas phase concentration gradient as
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖

And based on the liquid phase concentration gradient as

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿

Combing both equations:

𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿

Which can be rewritten as:

𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 𝑘𝐿
=−
𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖 𝑘𝐺
This is a straight-line equation

16
 Straight-Line Equation
𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 A straight-line equation takes the form:
𝒚=𝒂𝒙+𝒃
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑥 − 𝑥1
𝒙𝟐 , 𝒚𝟐 Equation is fully defined using the slope and the intercept.
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏
This can be applied to the two points 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 = 𝒂 = 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆
𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦1 = 𝑎 𝑥1 + 𝑏
𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝑦2 = 𝑎 𝑥2 + 𝑏
= 𝒂 = 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
Compare this to the mole balance equation:

𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑨𝒊 𝒌𝑳
=−
𝒄𝑨𝑳 − 𝒄𝑨𝒊 𝒌𝑮

It is a straight-line equation with two points 𝑐𝐴𝐿 , 𝑝𝐴 and

𝑐𝐴𝑖 , 𝑝𝐴𝑖
17
Draw a Straight Line Using a Point and a Slope (1)
Given the linear relation: 𝒚
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏
= 𝒂 = 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆
𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏
Knowing the slope 𝑎 and the point 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , the line can be
drawn by the knowledge of another point 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 that
satisfies the straight-line equation
To get the point rearrange the equation:
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟏 + 𝒂 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏
𝒙𝟐 , 𝒚𝟐
Substitute with any reasonable value of 𝑥 and get the
corresponding value of 𝑦. This is the second point 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 .
𝒙

18
Draw a Straight Line Using a Point and a Slope (2)
Given the linear relation: 𝒚
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏
= 𝒂 = 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆
𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏
Knowing the slope 𝑎 and the point 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , we can get the
intercept:
𝒚𝟏 = 𝒂 𝒙𝟏 + 𝒃 → 𝒃 = 𝒚𝟏 − 𝒂 𝒙𝟏
So, the equation is fully defined: 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒙 + 𝒃

𝒙𝟐 , 𝒚𝟐
Substitute with any reasonable value of 𝑥 and get the
corresponding value of 𝑦. This is the second point 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 . 𝒙

19
Graphical Solution of Two Equations
If we have two equations: 𝒚 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟐
Equation 1: 𝒚 = 𝒂𝟏 𝒙 + 𝒃𝟏 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏
Equation 2: 𝒚 = 𝒂𝟐 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 𝒙 + 𝒄
Solving the two equation simultaneously, i.e.
getting a point that satisfies the two equations:
𝒂𝟏 𝒙 + 𝒃𝟏 = 𝒂𝟐 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 𝒙 + 𝒄
𝒙, 𝒚
It is now one equation in one unknown, so it is
possible to calculate 𝑥.
From any of the two equations we can calculate 𝑦.
The point (𝑥, 𝑦) is a common point between the
𝒙
two equations.
This can be done graphically →
20
 Graphical Representation Flux Equation
𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑨𝒊 𝒌𝑳
=−
𝒄𝑨𝑳 − 𝒄𝑨𝒊 𝒌𝑮
𝒑𝑨

𝒑𝑨
Gas
Driving
Force
𝒑𝑨𝒊

Liquid Driving Force

𝒄𝑨𝑳 𝒄𝑨𝒊 𝒄𝑨 21
 Using Mole Fractions
𝒚𝑨
The steady state diffusion mass transfer can be expressed
mathematically in terms of gas phase mole fractions as:
𝒌𝒙
𝒚𝑨 − 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖
𝒌𝒚
In terms of liquid phase mole fraction:
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴
𝒚𝑨𝒊
Combining both equations:
𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴

Can be rewritten as:

𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚𝑨𝒊 𝒌𝒙
=−
𝒙𝑨 − 𝒙𝑨𝒊 𝒌𝒚

𝒙𝑨𝑳 𝒙𝑨𝒊 𝒙𝑨
22
 Mass Transfer Coefficients
For liquid film
Concentration Units of k
Flux equation 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿,𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿
representation (in gmol, cm2, atm and sec)
𝑐𝐴,𝑖 𝑐𝐴 𝑘𝑥
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴,𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 − = 𝑐 − 𝑐𝐴
Molar 𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿 𝐴𝐿,𝑖
𝑵𝑨 = 𝒌𝑳 𝒄𝑨𝑳,𝒊 − 𝒄𝑨𝑳 𝒄𝒎Τ𝒔𝒆𝒄
concentration 𝒌𝒙
Liquid 𝒌𝑳 =
Film 𝑪𝑳
Mole fraction 𝑵𝑨 = 𝒌𝒙 𝒙𝑨,𝒊 − 𝒙𝑨 𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒄𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄
For gas film (assuming ideal gas)
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴,𝑖
Partial pressure 𝑵𝑨 = 𝒌𝑮 𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑨,𝒊 𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒂𝒕𝒎 𝒄𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝑝𝐴 𝑝𝐴,𝑖 𝑘𝑦
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴,𝑖 = 𝑘𝑦 − = 𝑝 − 𝑝𝐴,𝑖
𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝐴
𝑝𝐴 𝑝𝐴,𝑖 𝑘𝑐
Gas 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑐 𝑐𝐴𝐺 − 𝑐𝐴𝐺,𝑖 = 𝑘𝑐 − = 𝑝 − 𝑝𝐴,𝑖
Film
Mole fraction 𝑵𝑨 = 𝒌𝒚 𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚𝑨,𝒊 𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒄𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇 𝐴
𝒌𝒚 𝒌𝒄
𝒌𝑮 = =
Molar 𝑷 𝑹𝑻
𝑵𝑨 = 𝒌𝒄 𝒄𝑨𝑮 − 𝒄𝑨𝑮,𝒊 𝒄𝒎Τ𝒔𝒆𝒄
concentration

23
 Overall Driving Force
𝒑𝑨 From the graphical representation, we can find
the overall driving force.

𝒑𝑨 For liquid phase:

∗
𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐷𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿
∗
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿

𝒑𝑨𝒊 Overall
Driving For gas phase:
Force 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐷𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗

𝒑∗𝑨 Where 𝐾𝐿 and 𝐾𝐺 are the overall liquid and gas

Overall Driving mass transfer coefficient, respectively.
Force

𝒄𝑨𝑳 𝒄𝑨𝒊 𝒄∗𝑨𝑳 𝒄𝑨

24
 Overall and Individual M. T. Coefficient
In case of a simple equilibrium relation, i.e. linear equilibrium Therefore,
at low concentration (Henry’s law):
𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝐻 𝑐𝐴,𝑖 𝟏 𝟏 𝑯
= +
𝑝𝐴∗ = 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝐿 𝑲𝑮 𝒌𝑮 𝒌𝑳
∗
𝑝𝐴 = 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝐿
Similarly in case of using other coefficients:
To get the relation between 𝐾𝐺 , 𝑘𝐺 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝐿 , start with the flux
equation: 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿,𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 𝐾𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗ 𝑲𝑳 𝑯 𝒌𝑮 𝒌𝑳
1 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 1 𝑐𝐴,𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿 1 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗
= , = , = 𝟏 𝟏 𝒎
𝑘𝐺 𝑁𝐴 𝑘𝐿 𝑁𝐴 𝐾𝐺 𝑁𝐴 = +
𝑲𝒚 𝒌𝒚 𝒌𝒙
1 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗ 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 𝑝𝐴𝑖 − 𝑝𝐴∗
= = +
𝐾𝐺 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
1 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝐿 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝐿 = +
= + = +𝐻 𝑲𝒙 𝒎 𝒌𝒚 𝒌𝒙
𝐾𝐺 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴
25
 Heat Transfer vs Mass Transfer

Individual Transfer
𝒉𝑳 𝒉𝑮 𝒌𝑳 𝒌𝑮
Coefficient
Individual Flux 𝒉𝑳 𝑻𝑮 − 𝑻𝒊 𝒉𝑮 𝑻𝒊 − 𝑻∞ 𝒌𝑳 𝒄𝑨𝑳 − 𝒄𝑨𝑳,𝒊 𝒌𝑮 𝒑𝑨𝒊 − 𝒑𝑨
∗
Overall Flux 𝑼 𝑻𝑮 − 𝑻∞ 𝑲𝑳 𝒄𝑨𝑳 − 𝒄𝑨𝑳 = 𝑲𝑮 𝒑∗𝑨 − 𝒑𝑨
Overall Transfer 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + = +
Coefficient (A=constant) 𝑼 𝒉𝑳 𝒉𝑮 𝑲𝑳 𝒌𝑳 𝑯. 𝒌𝑮
26
 Nonlinear Equilibrium Relation
𝒚𝑨 Non-linear equilibrium relation has variable slopes at
different points, i.e. 𝐻 ≠ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝒚𝑨 We can define two slopes
𝒌𝒙
− 𝒎′′ 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴∗
𝒌𝒚 𝑚′ = → 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴∗ = 𝑚′ 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴
𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴
𝒚𝑨𝒊 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 1
𝑚′′ = ∗ → 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = ′′ 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖
𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖 𝑚
𝒎′
Combining individual and overall M.T. Coefficients.
1 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖
𝒚∗𝑨 = , =
𝑘𝑥 𝑁𝐴 𝑘𝑦 𝑁𝐴
1 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴 1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴∗
= , =
𝒙𝑨 𝒙𝑨𝒊 𝒙𝑨∗ 𝒙𝑨 𝐾𝑥 𝑁𝐴 𝐾𝑦 𝑁𝐴

27
 Overall M.T. Coefficient
Overall liquid phase M.T. Coefficient Overall gas phase M.T. Coefficient
1 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴
= 1 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴𝑖 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴∗ 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 + 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴∗
𝑘𝑥 𝑁𝐴 = = + = =
𝐾𝑥 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 𝐾𝑦 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴
1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖
= 1 1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴
𝑘𝑦 𝑁𝐴 = ′′ + = + 𝑚′
𝐾𝑥 𝑚 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 𝐾𝑦 𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴
1 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝒎′
= = ′′ + = +
𝐾𝑥 𝑁𝐴 𝑲𝒙 𝒎 . 𝒌𝒚 𝒌𝒙 𝑲𝒚 𝒌𝒚 𝒌𝒙
1 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴∗ Similarly Similarly
=
𝐾𝑦 𝑁𝐴 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝒎′
= ′′ + = +
𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴∗ = 𝑚′ 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 𝑲𝑳 𝒎 . 𝒌𝑮 𝒌𝑳 𝑲𝑮 𝒌𝑮 𝒌𝑳
1 Based on the equation:
𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = ′′ 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 Based on the equation:
𝑚 𝑲𝑳 < 𝒌𝑳 , 𝑲𝑳 < 𝒌𝑮 𝑲𝑮 < 𝒌𝑳 , 𝑲𝑮 < 𝒌𝑮

28
Another Approach
Starting with the flux equation: Starting with the flux equation:
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴 = 𝐾𝐿 𝑐𝐴∗ − 𝑐𝐴 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 = 𝐾𝑥 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴

𝒄𝑨𝒊 − 𝒄𝑨 𝒙𝑨𝒊 − 𝒙𝑨
𝑲𝑳 = 𝒌𝑳 ∗ 𝑲𝒙 = 𝒌𝒙 ∗
𝒄𝑨 − 𝒄𝑨 𝒙𝑨 − 𝒙𝑨

Similarly: Similarly:
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝐾𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗ 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 𝐾𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴∗

𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑨𝒊 𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚𝑨𝒊
𝑲𝑮 = 𝒌𝑮 𝑲𝒚 = 𝒌𝒚
𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑∗𝑨 𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚∗𝑨

29
 Convective M.T. Resistance
𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆
𝑭𝒍𝒖𝒙 = 𝑭𝒍𝒖𝒙 =
𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

𝒙𝑨𝒊 − 𝒙𝑨 𝒄𝑨𝒊 − 𝒄𝑨
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴 𝑵𝑨 = 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴 𝑵𝑨 =
𝟏Τ𝒌𝒙 𝟏Τ𝒌𝑳

𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚𝑨𝒊 𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑨𝒊
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 𝑵𝑨 = 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 𝑵𝑨 =
𝟏Τ𝒌𝒚 𝟏Τ𝒌𝑮

𝒙∗𝑨 − 𝒙𝑨 𝒄∗𝑨 − 𝒄𝑨
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝑥 𝑥𝐴∗ − 𝑥𝐴 𝑵𝑨 = 𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐿 𝑐𝐴∗ − 𝑐𝐴 𝑵𝑨 =
𝟏Τ𝑲𝒙 𝟏Τ𝑲𝑳

𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑∗𝑨
𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚𝑨∗ 𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗ 𝑵𝑨 =
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴∗ 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟏Τ𝑲𝑮
𝟏Τ𝑲𝒚

30
Mass Transfer Relative Resistances
𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 = 𝑹𝑳 + 𝑹𝑮 𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 = 𝑹𝑳 + 𝑹𝑮

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝑯 𝟏
= + = +
𝑲𝑳 𝒌𝑳 𝑯. 𝒌𝑮 𝑲𝑮 𝒌 𝑳 𝒌 𝑮

𝑹𝑳 𝟏Τ 𝒌 𝑳 𝑹𝑳 𝑯Τ𝒌𝑳
%𝑹𝑳 = = %𝑹𝑳 = =
𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝟏Τ 𝑲 𝑳 𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝟏Τ 𝑲 𝑮

𝑲𝑳 𝑯. 𝑲𝑮
%𝑹𝑳 = %𝑹𝑳 =
𝒌𝑳 𝒌𝑳

𝟏Τ𝒌𝑳 𝟏Τ 𝑯. 𝒌𝑮 𝑹𝑮 𝟏Τ𝑯. 𝒌𝑮 𝑯 Τ𝒌𝑳 𝟏Τ𝒌𝑮 𝑹𝑮 𝟏Τ 𝒌 𝑮

%𝑹𝑮 = = %𝑹𝑮 = =
𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝟏Τ 𝑲 𝑳 𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝟏Τ 𝑲 𝑮

𝑲𝑳 𝑲𝑮
%𝑹𝑮 = %𝑹𝑮 =
𝑯. 𝒌𝑮 𝒌𝑮
𝟏Τ𝑲𝑳 𝟏Τ𝑲𝑮

31
 Relative Resistance
Case (1)
𝒑𝑨 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 ≅ 0
𝑘𝐿
−= 0 → 𝑘𝐿 ≪ 𝑘𝐺
𝑘𝐺
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
Case (1) = + ≅
𝑲𝑳 𝒌𝑳 𝑯. 𝒌𝑮 𝒌𝑳
𝒑𝑨 𝑲𝑳 ≅ 𝒌 𝑳

i.e. no gas phase resistance or “Liquid

𝒌𝑳 𝑯 phase-controlled M.T.”
−
𝒌𝑮
Case (2) Case (2)
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 ≅ ∞
𝑘𝐿
− = ∞ → 𝑘𝐿 ≫ 𝑘𝐺
𝑘𝐺
𝟏 𝑯 𝟏 𝟏
= + ≅
𝑲𝑮 𝒌 𝑳 𝒌 𝑮 𝒌 𝑮
𝑲𝑮 ≅ 𝒌 𝑮

i.e. no liquid phase resistance or “Gas

𝒄𝑨 𝒙𝑨 phase-controlled M.T.”

32
Graphical Representation of M.T. Operations

Distillation Absorption
1 0.15

0.14
0.9
0.13
0.8 0.12

0.11
0.7
0.1

0.6 0.09

0.08
y 0.5 Y
0.07

0.4 0.06

0.05
0.3
0.04

0.2 0.03

0.02
0.1 0.01

0
0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 0.11 0.12 0.13
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
X
x 33
 Absorption vs Stripping
A liquid stripping process is used to transfer hydrogen sulfide (H2S) dissolved in water into a contacting air stream. The
solvent (water) and carrier gas (air) are assumed to be immiscible, and the solvent is assumed to be nonvolatile. At the
present conditions of operation, the mole fraction of H2S in the bulk gas phase is 0.01, and in the liquid phase is 6 × 10−5.
The individual mass-transfer coefficients are 𝑘𝑥 = 0.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠 for the liquid film, and 𝑘𝑦 = 4.5 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠
for the gas film.

The temperature is 20°C, and the total system pressure is 1.5 atm. The density of the liquid approaches the density of liquid
water at 20°C, 992.3 kg/m3. The equilibrium line for the H2S-water-air system at 20°C for the concentrations involved is found
to obey Henry’s law with 𝐻 = 0.0088 𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚3 Τ𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙. The molecular weight of H2S is 34 g/gmole. Calculate the following:

- The liquid phase and gas phase the interfacial concentration of ammonia
- Calculate 𝐾𝐿 , 𝐾𝐺 , 𝐾𝑥 , 𝐾𝑦
- 𝑐𝐴∗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝐴∗
- Mass transfer flux
34
 Solution
• Parameters for solution using 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒌𝒙 , 𝒌𝒚 and 𝒎
Given Data 𝑥𝐴 = 6 × 10−5 , 𝑦𝐴 = 0.01
𝑘𝑥 = 0.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 , 𝑘𝑦 = 0.0045 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑃 = 1.5 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝐻. 𝐶𝐿
𝑇 = 20 𝑜 𝐶 = 293 𝐾 𝑝 = 𝐻. 𝑐 → 𝑦 𝑃 = 𝐻 𝑥𝐴 𝐶𝐿 → 𝑦 = 𝑥𝐴 = 𝑚 𝑥𝐴
𝑃
𝑛𝑤 𝑚𝑤 𝜌𝑤 992.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑦𝐴 = 0.01 𝐶𝐿 ≅ = = = = 55.13
𝑉 𝑀𝑤 𝑉 𝑀𝑤 18 𝑚3
𝑥𝐴 = 6 × 10−5 𝐻. 𝐶𝐿 8.8 × 55.13
𝑚= = = 322.5
𝑘𝑥 = 0.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑃 1.5
• Parameters for solution using 𝒄, 𝒑, 𝒌𝑳 , 𝒌𝑮 and 𝑯
2
𝑘𝑦 = 0.0045 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑐𝐴 𝑐𝐴𝑖 𝑘𝑥
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝑥 − = 𝑐 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 992.3 𝑘𝑔Τ𝑚3 𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿 𝐴
𝒌𝑳 = 𝒌𝒙 Τ𝑪𝑳 = 𝟎. 𝟑Τ𝑪𝑳 = 𝟎. 𝟑Τ𝟓𝟓. 𝟏𝟑 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓𝟒𝟒 𝒎Τ𝒔
Equilibrium relation 𝑝𝐴𝑖 𝑝𝐴 𝑘𝑦
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴𝑖 − 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 − = 𝑝 − 𝑝𝐴
𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝐴𝑖
𝑝 = 𝐻. 𝑐 𝒌𝑮 = 𝒌𝒚 Τ𝑷 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟒𝟓Τ𝟏. 𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒂𝒕𝒎. 𝒎𝟐 . 𝒔
𝐻 = 8.8 𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚3 Τ𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 𝑥𝐴 𝐶𝐿 = 6 × 10−5 × 55.13 = 0.0033 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚3
𝑝𝐴 = 𝑦𝐴 𝑃 = 0.01 × 1.5 = 0.015 𝑎𝑡𝑚 35
Graphical Solution – using 𝑥 and 𝑦

𝒚∗𝑨

𝒙𝑨𝒊 , 𝒚𝑨𝒊
From the graphical solution, we can
𝒙𝑨∗ find that:
𝒌𝒙 𝒙𝑨 , 𝒚𝑨 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 3.6 × 10−5
−
𝒙𝒚 𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 0.0118
𝑥𝐴∗ = 3.1 × 10−5
𝑦𝐴∗ = 0.0195

36
Graphical Solution – using 𝑐 and 𝑝

𝒑∗𝑨

𝒄𝑨𝒊 , 𝒑𝑨𝒊
From the graphical solution, we can find
𝒄∗𝑨
that:
𝒌𝑳
− 𝒄𝑨𝑳 , 𝒑𝑨 𝑐𝐴𝑖 = 1.95 𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚3
𝒌𝑮
𝑐𝐴𝑖 = 0.00195 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚3
𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 0.017 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑐𝐴∗ = 1.7 𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚3
𝑐𝐴∗ = 0.0017 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚3
𝑝𝐴∗ = 0.029 𝑎𝑡𝑚
37
 Numerical Solution
Given Data
𝑃 = 1.5 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑇 = 20 𝑜 𝐶 = 293 𝐾
𝑦𝐴 = 0.01
𝑥𝐴 = 6 × 10−5
𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 0.0033 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚3
𝑝𝐴 = 0.015 𝑎𝑡𝑚
2
𝑘𝑥 = 0.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
2
𝑘𝑦 = 0.0045 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑘𝐿 = 0.00544 𝑚Τ𝑠
𝑘𝐺 = 0.003 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚2 . 𝑠
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 992.3 𝑘𝑔Τ𝑚3
𝐶𝐿 = 55.13 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚3
Equilibrium relation
𝑝 = 𝐻. 𝑐
𝐻 = 8.8 𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚3Τ𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑦 = 𝑚. 𝑐
𝑚 = 322.5
Mole balance equation:
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴𝑖 − 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖
Equilibrium relation:
𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝑖
Combining the two equations:
𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴𝑖 − 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖
𝑘𝐺 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖
𝑘𝐺 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖
𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴
𝑐𝐴𝑖 =
𝑘𝐺 𝐻 + 𝑘𝐿
0.00544 × 0.0033 + 0.003 × 0.015
𝑐𝐴𝑖 =
0.003 × 8.8 + 0.00544
𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝒄𝑨𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟗𝟖
𝒎𝟑
𝒑𝑨𝒊 = 𝑯 𝒄𝑨𝒊 = 𝟖. 𝟖 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟗𝟖 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟕𝟒 𝒂𝒕𝒎
Mole balance equation:
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖
Equilibrium relation:
𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 𝑚 𝑥𝐴𝑖
Combining the two equations:
𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖
𝑘𝑦 𝑚 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖
𝑘𝑦 𝑚 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴𝑖
𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 + 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴
𝑥𝐴𝑖 =
𝑘𝑦 𝑚 + 𝑘𝑥
0.3 × 6 × 10−5 + 0.0045 × 0.01
𝑥𝐴𝑖 =
0.0045 × 322.5 + 0.3
𝒙 = 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗𝟕𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−5
𝑨𝒊
𝒚𝑨𝒊 = 𝒎 𝒙𝑨𝒊 = 𝟑𝟐𝟐. 𝟓 × 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗𝟕𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−5
𝒚𝑨𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟏𝟔
38
 Overall M.T. Coefficient
Given and calculated Data:
𝑃 = 1.5 𝑎𝑡𝑚
1 1 𝐻 1 8.8 1 1 𝑚 1 322.5
𝑇 = 20 𝑜 𝐶 = 293 𝐾 = + = +
𝐾𝐺 𝑘𝐺 𝑘𝐿 0.003 0.00544 = + = +
𝑦𝐴 = 0.01 𝐾𝑦 𝑘𝑦 𝑘𝑥 0.0045 0.3
𝑥𝐴 = 6 × 10−5 𝑲𝑮 = 𝟓. 𝟏𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒂𝒕𝒎. 𝒎𝟐 . 𝒔 𝑲𝒚 = 𝟕. 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒎𝟐 . 𝒔
𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 0.0033 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚3
1 1 1 1 1
𝑝𝐴 = 0.015 𝑎𝑡𝑚 = + = + 1 1 1 1 1
𝐾𝐿 𝐻𝑘𝐺 𝑘𝐿 8.8 × 0.003 0.00544 = + = +
𝑘𝑥 = 0.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐾𝑥 𝑚𝑘𝑦 𝑘𝑥 322.5 × 0.0045 0.3
𝑲𝑳 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟒𝟓 𝒎/𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝑘𝑦 = 0.0045 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑲𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟒𝟖𝟔 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒎𝟐 . 𝒔
𝑘𝐿 = 0.0054 𝑚Τ𝑠 𝑝𝐴∗ = 𝐻 𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 8.8 × 0.0033
𝑦𝐴∗ = 𝑚 𝑥𝐴 = 322.5 × 6 × 10−5
𝑘𝐺 = 0.003 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚 . 𝑠 2
𝒑∗𝑨 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟗 𝒂𝒕𝒎
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 992.3 𝑘𝑔Τ𝑚3
𝒚∗𝑨 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟗𝟑
𝑝𝐴 0.015
𝐶𝐿 = 55.13 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚3 𝑐𝐴∗ = = 𝑦𝐴 0.01
𝐻 8.8 𝑥𝐴∗ = =
Equilibrium relation
𝑚 322.5
𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑝 = 𝐻. 𝑐 𝒄𝑨∗ = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟕 = 𝟏. 𝟕 𝒙∗𝑨 = 𝟑. 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓
𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟑
𝐻 = 8.8 𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚3Τ𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑦 = 𝑚. 𝑐
𝑚 = 322.5 39
 Relative Resistances
Given and calculated Data:
𝑃 = 1.5 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝐾𝐺 = 5.13 × 10−4 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚2 . 𝑠 𝐾𝑦 = 7.7 × 10−4 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠
𝑜
𝑇 = 20 𝐶 = 293 𝐾
𝐾𝐿 = 0.0045 𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐾𝑥 = 0.2486 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠
𝑦𝐴 = 0.01
𝑥𝐴 = 6 × 10−5
𝑐𝐴𝐿 = 0.0033 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚3 Relative resistance in the liquid phase: Relative resistance in the liquid phase:
𝑝𝐴 = 0.015 𝑎𝑡𝑚
1Τ𝑘𝐿 𝐾𝐿 0.0045 1Τ𝑘𝑥 𝐾𝑥 0.2486
𝑘𝑥 = 0.3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 %𝑅𝐿 = = = % = 83% %𝑅𝐿 = = = % = 83%
1Τ𝐾𝐿 𝑘𝐿 0.0054 1Τ𝐾𝑥 𝑘𝑥 0. 3
𝑘𝑦 = 0.0045 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑘𝐿 = 0.0054 𝑚Τ𝑠
𝑘𝐺 = 0.003 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚2 . 𝑠
Relative resistance in the gas phase:
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 992.3 𝑘𝑔Τ𝑚3 Relative resistance in the gas phase:
𝐶𝐿 = 55.13 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 Τ𝑚3 1Τ𝑘𝑦 𝐾𝑦 7.7 × 10−4
−4
1Τ𝑘𝐺 𝐾𝐺 5.13 × 10 %𝑅𝐿 = = = % = 17%
Equilibrium relation %𝑅𝐿 = = = % = 17% 1Τ𝐾𝑦 𝑘𝑦 0.003
1Τ𝐾𝐺 𝑘𝐺 0.003
𝑝 = 𝐻. 𝑐
𝐻 = 8.8 𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚3Τ𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑦 = 𝑚. 𝑐
𝑚 = 322.5 40
 Flux – All M.T. Coefficients
Given and calculated Data:
variable Value units 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 0.3 × 6 − 3.597 × 10−5 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴𝑖 = 0.0054 × 0.0033 − 0.00198
𝑥𝐴 6 × 10−5
𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑥𝐴𝑖 3.597 × 10−5 None 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝑥𝐴∗ 3.1 × 10−5
𝑦𝐴 0.01 Or Or
None

𝑦𝐴𝑖 0.0116 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − 𝑦𝐴 = 0.0045 × 0.0116 − 0.01 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴𝑖 − 𝑝𝐴 = 0.003 × 0.0174 − 0.015
𝑦𝐴∗ 0.0193
𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑐𝐴𝐿 0.0033 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝑐𝐴𝑖 0.00198
𝑐𝐴∗ 0.0017 Or Or
𝑝𝐴 0.015
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝑥 𝑥𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴∗ = 0.2486 × 6 − 3.1 × 10−5 𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴∗ = 0.0045 × 0.0033 − 0.0017
𝑝𝐴𝑖 0.0174
𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑝𝐴∗ 0.029 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎 −𝟔 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
𝑘𝑥 0.3 𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝑘𝑦 0.0045 Or Or
𝐾𝑥 0.2486
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝑦 𝑦𝐴∗ − 𝑦𝐴 = 7.7 × 10−4 × 0.0193 − 0.01 𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐺 𝑝𝐴∗ − 𝑝𝐴 = 5.13 × 10−4 × 0.029 − 0.015
𝐾𝑦 7.7 × 10−4
𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑘𝐿 0.0054
𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎 −𝟔 𝑵𝑨 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒎𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝐾𝐿 0.0045
𝑘𝐺 0.003 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑚2 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝐾𝐺 5.13 × 10−4
41
Example 2
A gas absorption process is used to remove ammonia (NH3) from a gaseous mixture of ammonia
and air, using liquid water as the solvent. In the present process, the bulk gas stream contains 30
mole% NH3, and the bulk liquid stream contains 5.0 mole% dissolved NH3. The equilibrium
distribution of NH3 between gas and liquid phases at 30°C and 1.0 atm total system pressure, in
mole fraction coordinates, is displayed in the table below:
𝒙𝑨 0.013 0.017 0.021 0.031 0.041 0.050 0.073 0.095 0.136 0.175

𝒚𝑨 0.014 0.019 0.024 0.038 0.052 0.066 0.104 0.146 0.238 0.341
At the conditions of the process, the liquid film individual mass-transfer coefficient in mole fraction
coordinates is 𝑘𝑥 = 0.030 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒/𝑚2 𝑠, and the gas film individual mass-transfer coefficient in
mole fraction coordinates is 𝑘𝑦 = 0.010 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒/𝑚2 𝑠

Calculate the flux, the overall mass transfer coefficients, and the relative resistance in liquid phase.
42
 Solution
(𝒙𝑨 , 𝒚𝑨 )

𝒙∗𝑨

𝒌𝒙
−
𝒌𝒚
(𝒙𝑨𝒊 , 𝒚𝑨𝒊 )
Given Data

𝑃 = 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑇 = 30 𝑜 𝐶 = 303 𝐾

𝑥𝐴 = 0.05 𝒚∗𝑨
𝑦𝐴 = 0.3

𝑘𝑥 = 0.03 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑘𝑦 = 0.01 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 From the graph: 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 0.099, 𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 0.155
From the graph: 𝑥𝐴∗ = 0.16, 𝑦𝐴∗ = 0.065
43
 Numerical Solution
Performing data fitting to the equilibrium data produces the equilibrium relation:
𝑦 = 5.1557𝑥 2 + 1.0439𝑥

Mole balance equation:

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴
0.01 × 0.3 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 0.03 × 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 0.05

Combining both equations:

2
0.01 × 0.3 − 5.1557𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 1.0439𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 0.03 × 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 0.05
2
Given Data 5.1557𝑥𝐴𝑖 + 4.0439𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 0.45 = 0
𝑥𝐴𝑖 = −0.8832 or 𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 0.0988
𝑃 = 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚
2
𝑦𝐴𝑖 = 5.1557𝑥𝐴𝑖 + 1.0439𝑥𝐴𝑖 = 0.1535
𝑇 = 30 𝑜 𝐶 = 303 𝐾
𝑵𝑨 = 𝒌𝒚 𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚𝑨𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 × 𝟎. 𝟑 − 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓𝟑𝟓 = 𝟏. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍Τ𝒎𝟐 . 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝑥𝐴 = 0.05

𝑦𝐴 = 0.3 From equilibrium relation: 𝑦𝐴∗ = 5.1557𝑥𝐴2 + 1.0439𝑥𝐴 = 5.1557 × 0.052 + 1.0439 × 0.05 = 0.065

𝑘𝑥 = 0.03 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝑦 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐴∗ = 𝐾𝑦 × 0.3 − 0.065 = 1.5 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 → 𝐾𝑦 = 0.0064 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑘𝑦 = 0.01 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑹𝑳 𝟏Τ𝒌𝒚 𝑲𝒚 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟒

= = = = 𝟔𝟑. 𝟖%
𝑹𝑳,𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝟏Τ 𝑲 𝒚 𝒌 𝒚 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏

44
 Combining Interfacial M.T. & Mass Balance
Soda water is produced by CO2 from a compressed flue gas mixture
into a tank of liquid water.
The gas space over the liquid inside the tank is considered well mixed,
and the CO2 composition exiting the headspace contains 10 mole%
CO2 and 90% N2 at 2.0 atm total system pressure and 25°C. Water
containing no dissolved CO2 enters the tank at a flow rate (𝑄) of 0.2
m3/h. The liquid is well mixed, but the gas is not bubbled into the
liquid, so the liquid surface defines the gas–liquid interphase mass-
transfer area, S.
The diameter of the cylindrical tank (𝑑) is 3.0 m, and the liquid depth is 1.0 m. It can be assumed that the N2 gas does not dissolve
appreciably in the liquid, and the solvent is nonvolatile.
At the conditions of agitation, the gas film mass-transfer coefficient is 𝑘𝑐 𝑔𝑎𝑠 = 0.05 𝑚/𝑠, and the liquid film mass-transfer coefficient is
𝑘𝐿 = 1.5 × 10−5 𝑚/𝑠. The Henry’s law constant for dissolution of CO2 gas into liquid water at 25°C is 1630 atm, based on the definition
𝑝𝐴,𝑖 = 𝐻𝑥 𝑥𝐴,𝑖 . The density of the liquid water at 25°C is 995.2 kg/m3.
∗
What is the concentration of dissolved CO2 in the liquid stream exiting the tank, 𝑐𝐴𝐿, and the maximum dissolved CO2 concentration, 𝑐𝐴𝐿 ?
45
Strategy of Solution
Outlet concentration can be calculated using mass balance on liquid:
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2
+ − + =
𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
We can assume:
• steady state
• No CO2 reaction in liquid phase
• Perfect mixing in the liquid phase (CO2 concentration in outlet stream= CO2 concentration in the carbonator)
• Constant liquid volume
• Low concentration of CO2 in water

So
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑂2 𝑖𝑛
+ − +0=0
𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚
𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑁𝐴 𝑆 − 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 0 = 0
46
Which Flux Equation to Use?

Mass balance 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝐻𝑐𝐴𝑖

𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴𝑖
on liquid phase 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑘𝐺 𝐻𝑐𝐴𝑖
in terms of liquid 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 + 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐺 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐴∗ 𝑐𝐴𝑖 =
concentration 𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻
? 𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 + 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻

? ?
𝑁𝐴 = 𝐾𝐿 𝑐𝐴∗ − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 1 1 1
= +
𝐾𝐿 𝑘𝐿 𝐻𝑘𝐺
𝑘𝐿 𝐻𝑘𝐺
𝐾𝐿 =
𝑘𝐿 + 𝐻𝑘𝐺
𝑝𝐴
𝑐𝐴∗ =
𝐻
47
 Strategy of Solution
𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑁𝐴 𝑆 − 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0
𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑁𝐴 𝑆 − 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0
𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑆 − 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0
𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝐾𝐿 𝑐𝐴∗ − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑆 − 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0
𝑘𝐺 𝑝𝐴 + 𝑘𝐿 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑘𝐿 − 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑆 − 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0
𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻
𝑸𝒄𝑨,𝒊𝒏 + 𝒄𝑨∗ . 𝑺. 𝑲𝑳
𝒄𝑨,𝒐𝒖𝒕 =
𝑘𝐿2 𝑆 𝑘𝐿 𝑘𝐺 𝑆 𝑸 + 𝑺. 𝑲𝑳
𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑄 + 𝑘𝐿 𝑆 − = 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑝
𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻 𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻 𝐴

𝒌𝑳 𝒌𝑮 𝑺 Both formulas are the same:

𝑸𝒄𝑨,𝒊𝒏 + 𝒑
𝒌𝑳 + 𝒌𝑮 𝑯 𝑨 𝑘𝐿 𝑘𝐺 𝑆
𝒄𝑨,𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑐𝐴∗ . 𝑆. 𝐾𝐿
𝒌𝟐𝑳 𝑺 𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻
𝑸 + 𝒌𝑳 𝑺 −
𝒌𝑳 + 𝒌𝑮 𝑯 𝑘𝐿2 𝑆
𝑘𝐿 𝑆 − = 𝑆. 𝐾𝐿
𝑘𝐿 + 𝑘𝐺 𝐻
48
 Solution
Given Data
Unifying the units: 𝜋 2 𝜋
𝑃 = 2 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑆= 𝑑 = × 32 = 7.07 𝑚2
4 4
𝑘𝑐 𝑔𝑎𝑠 0.05 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑇 = 25 𝑜 𝐶 = 298 𝐾 𝑘𝐺 = = = 0.00205 2 𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 = 𝑥𝐴 𝐶𝐿 = 0
𝑅𝑇 0.082 × 298 𝑚 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐. 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑥𝐴 = 0
𝑝𝐴 0.1 × 2 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙
Equilibrium relation: 𝑐𝐴∗ = = = 0.0068
𝑦𝐴 = 0.1 𝐻 29.48 𝑚3
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 995.2 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝐶𝐿 = = = 55.29 𝒄∗𝑨 = 𝟔. 𝟖
𝑚3 0.2 𝑚3 𝑀𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 18 𝑚3
𝑄 = 0.2 = 𝒎𝟑
ℎ𝑟 3600 𝑠
𝐻𝑥
𝑝𝐴 = 𝐻𝑥 𝑥𝐴 = × 𝑐𝐴 = 𝐻 × 𝑐𝐴 By substitution:
𝑚 3 𝐶𝐿
𝑄 = 5.556 × 10−5 𝑄𝑐𝐴,𝑖𝑛 + 𝑐𝐴∗ . 𝑆. 𝐾𝐿
𝑠 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 =
𝟏𝟔𝟑𝟎 𝒂𝒕𝒎. 𝒎𝟑 𝑄 + 𝑆. 𝐾𝐿
𝑯= = 𝟐𝟗. 𝟒𝟖
𝟓𝟓. 𝟐𝟗 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑘𝑐 ቚ = 0.05 𝑚Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑔𝑎𝑠 0 + 6.8 × 7.07 × 1.499 × 10−5
The overall mass transfer coefficient: 𝑐𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 =
𝑘𝐿 = 1.5 × 10 −5
𝑚Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐
5.556 × 10−5 + 7.07 × 1.499 × 10−5

𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 995.2 𝑘𝑔Τ𝑚3 1 1 1 1 1 𝒈𝒎𝒐𝒍

= + = + 𝒄𝑨,𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝟒. 𝟒𝟔𝟏
𝐾𝐿 𝑘𝐿 𝐻𝑘𝐺 1.5 × 10−5 29.48 × 0.00205 𝒎𝟑
𝑑 =3𝑚
𝒎
𝐿 =1𝑚 𝑲𝑳 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗𝟗𝒆 − 𝟎𝟓
𝒔 49
End of Chapter 27

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