SEPARATION PROCESSES 1

Theories of Mass Transfer

Dr.
THEORIES OF MASS TRANSFER:
I. The film theory
II. The penetration theory
III. The surface renewal theory
IV. The boundary layer theory
The Film Theory

*A model for turbulent mass transfer to or from a fluid-

phase boundary was suggested in 1904 by Nernst.

*Basic concept – the resistance to diffusion can be

considered equivalent to that in stagnant film of a certain
thickness

*Often used as a basis for complex problems of

multicomponent diffusion or diffusion plus chemical
reaction.
THE FILM THEORY:
THE FILM THEORY:
• Assumptions:
THE FILM THEORY:
• The mass flux across the film is given by

• For Liquid phase

• By comparison, Mass transfer coefficient

THE PENETRATION THEORY:
Penetration Theory
* Proposed by Higbie
* Considers unsteady state at interface
* Fluid eddies travel from bulk to interface by
convection & remain there for equal but limited period
of time
* When eddies comes at interface, solute moves into it
by molecular diffusion & get penetrated into bulk when
eddies moves to bulk
* According to this theory, rate of mass transfer directly
proportional to square root of molecular diffusion and
inversely proportional to exposure time of eddies at
interface. Makes use of the expression for the
transient rate of diffusion into a relatively thick mass of
fluid with a constant concentration at the surface.
THE PENETRATION THEORY:
• Assumptions:
THE PENETRATION THEORY:
THE SURFACE RENEWAL THEORY:
• Dankwert (1951) assumed that,
I. The liquid elements at the interface are being randomly
replaced by fresh elements from the bulk
II. At any moment each of the liquid elements at the surface has
the same probability of being replaced by a fresh element
III. Unsteady state mass transfer occurs to an element during its
stay at the interface

• According to Dankwert theory, mass transfer coefficient is given

as

• S is the fractional rate of surface renewal.

Boundary Layer Theory
*Mass transfer often take place in a thin boundary
layer near a surface where the fluid is in laminar
flow.
*The coefficient, kc depends on 2/3 power of
diffusivity and decreases with increasing distance
along the surface in the direction of flow
*Boundary layer theory can be used to estimate kc for
some situations, but exact prediction of kc cannot be
made when the boundary layer become turbulent.
Consider mass transfer from a turbulent gas
stream to the wall of a pipe;

*Laminar layer near the

wall
*Mass transfer is mainly
by molecular diffusion
*The conc. gradient
almost linear
*As the distance from the
wall increases, turbulent
become stronger.
*The resistance to mass
transfer is mainly in
laminar boundary layer.
THE BOUNDARY LAYER THEORY: