INTRODUCTION TO MASS

TRANSFER AND DIFFUSION 

1.1 Similarity of Mass, Heat and Momentum Transfer Processes 
1.2 Examples of Mass-Transfer Processes 
1.3 Fick’s Law for Molecular Diffusion 
1.4 Convective Mass-Transfer Coefficient

Geankoplis 4th edition – pg 411-415 (Chapter 6)

 MOMENTUM
transfer happens
in…
  Conductive and convective transfer of heat

HEAT transfer
happens in…
 MASS transfer happens in…

DISTILLATION ABSORPTION DRYING LIQUID-LIQUID ADSORPTION

EXTRACTION

ION EXCHANGE CRYSTALLIZATIO MEMBRANE

N PROCESSES
THE BASIC MECHANISM ARE THE SAME FOR GAS,
LIQUID OR SOLID
 Mass is being transferred from one phase to another OR
 Mass is being transferred from one phase through a single
phase
  
Eq. (2.3-1)

We need a driving force to overcome a resistance in order to transport a

property.

We can formalize Eq. (2.3-1) by writing an equation as follows for

molecular transport or diffusion of a property
GENERAL Eq. (2.3-2)
MOLECULAR
TRANSPORT  
Where

EQUATION • is defined as the flux of the property as amount of property being

transferred per unit time per unit cross-sectional area perpendicular to
the z direction of flow in amount of property/s · m2,
• δ is a proportionality constant called diffusivity in m2/s,
• Г is concentration of the property in amount of property/m3, and
• z is the distance in the direction of flow in m.

PG 42-43
 NEWTON’S EQUATION FOR MOMENTUM TRANSFER

𝜇 𝑑 ( 𝜈 𝑥 𝜌)
𝜏  𝑧𝑥 =− (6.1-1)
𝜌 𝑑𝓏

 Where:
=momentum transferred/s.m2
=kinematic viscosity in m2/s Momentum = kg. m/s
MOLECULAR z = distance in m
DIFFUSION =momentum/m3

EQUATIONS FOR
MOMENTUM FOURIER’S LAW EQUATION FOR HEAT CONDUCTION
AND HEAT   𝑞𝑧 𝑑 (𝜌 𝑐 𝑝𝑇 )
=− 𝛼
TRANSFER 𝐴 𝑑 𝓏(6.1-2)
 
Where:
=heat flux in W/m2
=thermal diffusivity in m2/s
= J/m3
 FICK’S LAW EQUATION FOR MOLECULAR DIFFUSION OF
MASS

𝑑 𝑐𝐴
𝐽  ∗𝐴𝑍 =− 𝐷 𝐴𝐵 (6.1-3)
MOLECULAR 𝑑𝓏
DIFFUSION
EQUATIONS FOR  
Where:
MASS TRANSFER = molar flux of component A in z direction due to
molecular diffusion in kg.mol A/s.m2
= molecular diffusivity of the molecule A in B in m2/s
cA = concentration of A in kg mol A/m3
z = distance in m
 Flux (left side) Unit
Momentum transfer Momentum, heat or
Momentum,
mass heat or
per unit time per
Heat transfer mass per
Mass transfer unit area per
unit time
unit area
Mass transfer

Transport property Unit

Momentum transfer
Similarities Heat transfer
Heat transfer
m
m2/s
2
/s
Mass transfer
Mass transfer

Concentration Unit
Momentum transfer momentum/m3
Heat transfer J/m33
J/m
Mass transfer cA kg mol/m3
Mass transfer cA kg mol/m3
TURBULENT DIFFUSION
EQUATIONS FOR MOMENTUM,
HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER

REFER TO PAGE 412 IN YOUR

GEANKOPLIS BOOK.
LIST THE EQUATIONS FOR
TURBULENT DIFFUSION
EQUATIONS FOR MOMENTUM,
HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER.
THEN STATE THE SIMILARITIES…
 EXAMPLES OF MASS
-TRANSFER PROCESSES
Strontium ion in microplastic
 MOLECULAR DIFFUSION OR MOLECULAR
TRANSPORT
 Transfer or movement of individual molecules through a fluid
by means of the random, individual movements of the
molecules

Fick’s law for

molecular RANDOM-WALK PROCESS

diffusion
 Molecular
diffusion
example

Same analogy
1. Conduction ~ molecular diffusion
2. Convective HT ~ convective MT
DIFFUSION OF MOLECULE
 Due to concentration gradient
 General Fick’s law 𝑑𝑥
𝐽  ∗𝐴𝑍 =− 𝑐 𝐷 𝐴𝐵 (6.1-7)
𝑑𝓏
 Where c is total concentration of A and B in kg mol A + B/m 3
 xA = mole fraction of A in the mixture of A and B

IF C IS CONSTANT
  cA=cxA (6.1-8)

𝑑 𝑐𝐴
𝐽  ∗𝐴𝑍 =− 𝐷 𝐴𝐵
 For constant total concentration (6.1-3)
𝑑𝓏
 WHEN A FLUID IS FLOWING OUTSIDE A SOLID
SURFACE IN FORCED CONVECTION MOTION
  Rate of Convective mass transfer from the surface to the solid
or vice versa:
=

Convective mass Where

transfer = mass-transfer coefficient in m/s

= bulk fluid concentration in kg mol A/m3
coefficient = concentration in the fluid next to the surface of the solid