Mass transfer coefficient

Dissolution process of a solid

Forced convection MT
Free convection MT

Sugar cube suspended in water-natural

convection occurs
Microscopic (or Fick’s Law) approach:
dCA
JA = - DAB (1)
dz
good for diffusion dominated problems

Macroscopic (or mass transfer coefficient) approach:

NA = - k ΔCA (2)

where k is known as the mass transfer coefficient

good for convection dominated problems

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 The mass transfer coefficient
• Rate of mass transfer α Concentration driving force (i.e. the
difference in concentration)
• Rate of mass transfer α Area of contact between the phases
• If WA is the rate of mass transfer (kmol/s) of the solute A, ΔCA is the
concentration driving force between two points, and a is the area
of mass transfer
WA α a ΔCA ͢ WA = kc a ΔCA
where kc, the proportionality constant, is a phenomenological
coefficient called the ‘mass transfer coefficient’.

If NA is the molar flux (expressed as kmol/m2s,

we may write WA = aNA = kc a ΔCA NA = kc ΔCA
Mass Transfer Coefficient Approach
NA = kc ΔCA = kc (CA1 – CA2 ) (51)

kc is the liquid-phase mass-transfer coefficient

based on a concentration driving force.

CA1 A&B

What is the unit of kc?

NA
CA2
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Mass Transfer Coefficient Approach
NA = kc ΔCA = kc (CA1 – CA2 ) (51)
Using the following relationships between concentrations and
partial pressures:
CA1 = pA1 / RT; CA2 = pA2 / RT

Equation (51) can be written as

NA = kc (pA1 – pA2) / RT = kG (pA1 – pA2) (52)

where kG = kc / RT (53)

kG is a gas-phase mass-transfer coefficient

based on a partial-pressure driving force.
What is the unit of kG? 6
•=  

The inverse of MTC is mass transfer resistance. If the driving

force is difference in concentration then the unit of MTC is
m/s ,which is the same as the unit of velocity
If the MTC is expressed as local flux and local driving force, it is
called as localMTC, if expressed as average flux and average
driving force it is known as average MTC
 Types of MTC-3type

Depends on i.whether MT occurs in gas phase or liquid phase

ii.The choice of driving force
iii.Whether it is a case of diffusion of A thro non diffusing B
Liquids