MASS TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

INTRODUCTION

DR. NAJAF AWAN

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COURSE OUTLINE
• Introduction to mass transfer and applications
• Mass conservation equations for single and
multi-component mixture
• Principles of diffusion transfer between phases
• Ficks law, Analogies with momentum and heat
transfer
• Steady state diffusion in gases and liquids
• Transient diffusion
• Mass transfer theories
• Mass Transfer Coefficients through various 2
geometries and flow patterns
COURSE OUTLINE
• Equilibrium stage operations
• Equipment for stage contacts
• Distillation
(a) Flash distillation
(b) Continuous distillation with reflux
• Design of plate and packed columns

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BOOKS RECOMMENDED
• B.K. Dutta. , “Principles of Mass
Transfer and Separation Processes”

• R.E. Treybal. , “Mass Transfer

Operations”, 3rd edition

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BOOKS RECOMMENDED
• Welty, Rorrer and Foster.,
“Fundamentals of Momentum, Heat
and Mass Transfer”, 6th edition

• Incorpea, Dewitt, Bergman, Levin.,

“Fundmentals of Heat and Mass
Transfer”, 6th edition
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BOOKS RECOMMENDED
• McCabe, Smith and Harriott. , “Unit
Operations of Chemical Engineering”,
7th edition

• Coulson and Richardson. “Chemical

Engineering”, Vol. 1, 6th edition
(Text Book)
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INTRODUCTION TO MASS TRANSFER

Fundamental transfer processes are

1. Momentum transfer
2. Heat transfer
3. Mass transfer

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INTRODUCTION TO MASS TRANSFER

Transport Processes

Momentum Heat Mass

Transfer Tranfer Transfer

Transport of Transport Transport

Momentum of Energy of Mass

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INTRODUCTION TO MASS TRANSFER
General equation of transport process is
Rate of transfer =
Driving Force/Resistance
For Heat Transfer, Temperature
Gradient
For Momentum Transfer, Velocity
Gradient
For Mass Transfer, Concentration
Gradient 9
Definition of Concentration
Amount of particles/solute per unit volume
of solution/gas mixture
i) Mass Concentration
Mass of species per unit volume (kg/m³)
ii) Molecular Concentration
Number of molecules of each species
present per unit volume (molecules/m³) 10
Definition of Concentration
iii) Molar Concentration

Number of moles of species per unit volume

(kmol/m³)

• The difference in concentration between

two points is called concentration gradient

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MASS TRANSFER
Transfer of a component from a higher
concentration region to that of lower
concentration is called mass transfer

 When a system contains two or more

components whose concentrations vary from
point to point, there is a natural tendency
for mass to be transferred, minimizing the
concentration differences within a system

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MASS TRANSFER

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MASS TRANSFER
 Mass transfer may occur in a gas mixture,
liquid solution or solid
 Mass transfer occurs whenever there is a
gradient in the concentration of a species
 Basic mechanisms are the same whether
the phase is a gas, liquid, or solid

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MASS TRANSFER
 Mass transfer plays an important role in
many industrial processes
 Operations for separating the components of
mixture is based on the transfer of material
from one homogeneous phase to another
 Methods are covered by the term mass
transfer operations like gas absorption and
stripping, liquid-liquid extraction, leaching

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MASS TRANSFER
EXAMPLES
• A lump of sugar added to a cup of tea
eventually dissolves and then diffuses to
make the concentration uniform
• Perfumes present a pleasant fragrance
which is imparted throughout the
surrounding atmosphere
• Water evaporating from ponds into the air
to increase the humidity of passing air
stream 16
MASS TRANSFER APPLICATIONS
• Absorption
• Stripping
• Distillation
• Drying
• Leaching
• Adsorption
• Liquid-Liquid Extraction
• Crystallization
• Humidification 17
MASS TRANSFER OPEARTIONS
Absorption
A solute gas is absorbed from an inert gas
into liquid, in which the solute is more or
less soluble e.g. washing of ammonia from
ammonia-air mixture by liquid water
Desorption/Stripping
If a solute is transferred from the solvent
liquid to the gas phase, solute in the liquid
solvent is recovered by distillation

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MASS TRANSFER OPEARTIONS
Distillation
Separation of a liquid mixture of miscible
and volatile substances into individual
components by vaporization e.g. crude
petroleum into gasoline, kerosene and fuel
oil, separation of mixture of alcohol and
water into its components
Drying
In drying of solids, a liquid usually water is
separated by hot dry gas (air) e.g. drying of
fruits
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MASS TRANSFER OPEARTIONS
Dehumidification
In dehumidification, a pure liquid is
partially removed from an inert or carrier
gas by condensation e.g. removal of water
vapor from air by condensation on a cold
surface
Leaching
In extraction of solids or leaching, soluble
material is dissolved from its mixture with
an inert solid by means of a liquid solvent,
the dissolved material or solute is recovered
by evaporation or crystallization e.g.
extraction of caffein from coffee
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MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS
Liquid Extraction/Solvent Extraction
A mixture of two components is treated by a
solvent which dissolves one or more
components in the mixture e.g. recovery of
penicillin from fermentation broth
Adsorption
Accumulation of large number of molecular
species at the surface of liquid or solid
phase e.g. drying of air

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MASS TRANSFER APPLICATIONS

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MASS TRANSFER SIGNIFICANCE

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DIFFUSION
Diffusion
Mass transfer in a stationary solid or fluid
under a concentration gradient

Convection
Mass transfer across a moving fluid under a
concentration gradient

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TYPES OF DIFFUSION
1. Molecular Diffusion
It is the mass transfer or diffusion due to
the random velocities of the molecules

2. Eddy Diffusion
It is the mass transfer or diffusion that
results from the circulating or eddy
currents present in a turbulent fluid

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MASS TRANSFER MECHANISMS

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MODES OF MASS TRANSFER

Mechanism of mass transfer depends on the

dynamics of the system

I. Diffusional mass transfer (Molecular/Eddy

Diffusion)

II. Convective mass transfer

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DIFFUSIONAL MASS TRANSFER
The macroscopic transport of mass,
independent of any convection within the
system
 Occurs when a substance diffuses through a
layer of stagnant fluid
 In gaseous mixture, molecular diffusion
occurs due to random motion of the
molecules
 Mass transfer is more rapid in eddy
diffusion than molecular one 28
CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER
Mass transfer between a moving fluid and a
surface or between two relatively immiscible
moving fluids
 Convective mass transfer depends on transport
properties and dynamic characteristics of
moving fluids
 Hot gases escaping from chimney rise by
convection and then diffuse into the ambient air
Types
I. Free or Natural Convection
II. Forced Convection 29