Mass Transfer Principles

Dr.T.Murugesan

Mass Transfer
Transport of one component from the region of Higher

Concentration to lower Concentration

Migration of one substance through another under the

influence of concentration gradient
Involves the Diffusional Transport of some component
within a single phase or between two immiscible phases
which are in contact.
Components may migrate from the bulk of one phase to
interphase between phases and remains there
2

Examples of Diffusion Processes

Sugar added to a cup of tea/ water

Evaporation of water from ponds
Room refreshener
Oxygen into blood
Function of kidney membrane
Controlled release of drugs

Separation Process involving Mass Transfer

Distillation
Absorption & Desorption
Liquid Extraction
Leaching
Adsorption
Crystallization
Humidification & Dehumidification
Drying
4

Classification of Mass Transfer process

Molecular Diffusion in stagnant media
Molecular diffusion in fluids in Laminar
flow
Eddy diffusion or Diffusion in turbulent
stream
Mass transfer between Phases

Diffusion
Diffusion (considered in this chapter)
The movement of a substance from an
area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration

Example:
A = blue liquid dye
B = water

 Basic definitions
Total mass of the mixture:

= i

Mass fraction:

wA

For gases:

CA = nA/ V

i 1

= PA / RT

wA

Mole fraction
For multi component systems
Mass average velocity:

XA

MA
= n w
i

Mi
i 1
n

i 1
n

vi

i 1

Molar average velocity:

C v
i 1
n

v
i 1

Ficks Law
Ficks Law for molecular diffusion of mass for constant
total concentration:

J * Az
D AB
cA
z

Az

D AB

dc A
dz

(1)

Molar flux of component A in the z direction due to

molecular diffusion (kgmol A/s.m2)
Molecular diffusivity of the molecule A in B (m2/s)
Concentration of A (kgmol/m3)
Distance of diffusion (m)

Mass Transfer Coefficient

The rate of convective mass transfer for a fluid
flowing outside a solid surface in forced convection
from the surface to the solid (vice versa):
N A k c ( c L1 c Li )

(2)

k c Mass-transfer coefficient (m/s)

c L1
c Li

Bulk fluid concentration (kgmol A/m3

Concentration in the fluid next to the surface of the
solid

10

Diffusion in Gases
Outlines:
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

Equimolar counterdiffusion in gases

General case for diffusion of gases A and
B plus convection
Special case for A diffusing through
stagnant, non-diffusing B
Diffusion through varying cross-sectional
area
Diffusion coefficients for gases
11

1. Equimolar counter-diffusion
Consider:
2 gases A and B
At constant total
pressure P
Molecular diffusion at
steady-state
Partial pressures:
pA pA
1

p B2 p B1
12

1. Equimolar counter-diffusion
Net moles A and B diffusing right to left (and vice versa) are equal
since total pressure P is constant,

J * Az J * Bz
Ficks law for B for constant total concentration c,
dc B
*
J B DBA
dz

(3)

(4)

Since total pressure P is constant, then

c c A cB

dc A dc B

(5)
13

1. Equimolar counter-diffusion
Combining (1), (3) and (4)

D AB

dc A
dc
DBA B
dz
dz

(6)

Substituting (5) into (6) and canceling

DAB DBA

(7)

i.e. for binary gas mixture of A and B, the diffusivity coefficient DAB
for A diffusing into B is the same as DBA for B diffusing into A

14

2.

General diffusion & convection

For diffusion in stationary fluid, the diffusion flux J*A passing a fixed
point from left (high concn.) to right (low concn.) can be expressed
in terms of velocity of diffusion of A,
Diffusion velocity
*
of A
J A v c
Ad

(kgmol A/sm2)

(m/s)(kgmol A/m3)

(8)

If convective flow (to the right) presents, A is diffusing at velocity

vAd plus the convective velocity of the bulk fluid. Hence,

Velocity of A
relative to a
stationary point

v A v Ad vM

Convective
velocity of the
bulk fluid

(9)15

2.

General diffusion & convection

Multiplying by cA,

c A v A c A v Ad c A vM

(10)

N A J * A c A vM

(11)

Hence,

If N = total convective flux of the whole stream relative to the

stationary point, then

N cv M N A N B
vM

NA NB

(12)
16

2.

General diffusion & convection

Substituting equation (12) and Ficks law into (11),

N A cD AB

dx A c A
N A N B
dz
c

Diffusion
term

Convection
term

Note:
For Equimolar counter-diffusion,
Hence,

N A cD AB

(13)

N A N B

dx A
dz
17

3.

Stagnant, non-diffusing B

18

3.

Stagnant, non-diffusing B

For A diffusing in stagnant, non-diffusing B, in equation (12) set

N A cD AB

dx A c A
N A 0
dz
c

NB 0
(14)

If total pressure is kept constant P

P
c
RT

xA
pA
P

cA pA

c
P

Substituting into (14)

D AB dp A p A
NA

NA
RT dz
P

(15)
19

3.

Stagnant, non-diffusing B

Re-arranging and integrating

D AB P
P p A2
ln
RT ( z 2 z1 ) P p A1

(16)

D AB P
p A1 p A2
RT ( z 2 z1 ) p BM

(17)

NA

Or another form
NA

20

4.

Varying cross-sectional area

Sphere to surrounding medium
Evaporation

of a drop of liquid
Evaporation of a ball of naphthalene
Diffusion of nutrients to a sphere-like
micro-organism in a liquid

Conduit of non-uniform csa

21

4.

Varying cross-sectional area

22

4.

Varying cross-sectional area

Define

NA
Where

NA

A
At steady-state,
area.

NA
A

(18)

Kg moles of A diffusing per second (kgmol/s)

Cross-sectional area through which the diffusion
occurs

NA

will be constant but not

for varying

23

4.

Varying cross-sectional area

1. Diffusion from a sphere

(19)

NA
4r1

N A1

D AB P p A1 PA2

p BM
RTr1

If p A1 is small compared to P (a dilute phase), p BM P

Also, setting 2r1 D1 , diameter, and c A1 p A1 / RT
N A1

2 D AB
c A1 c A2
D1

(20)

24

4.

Varying cross-sectional area

2. Diffusion through a conduit of non-uniform csa

NA
D AB
dp A
NA 2
RT 1 p A / P dz
r
r2 r1
z r1
r
z 2 z1

Defining
z2

D AB

z1 r r
RT

2
1
z r1

z 2 z1

NA

dz

pA2

dp A
p 1 p A / P
A1

(21)

25

5.

Diffusion coefficients for gases

a) Experimental determination

D AB V1 V2
cav c2
exp
t
0
cav c2
L / A V2V1

Where

c av is the average concentration value at equilibrium

26

5.

Diffusion coefficients for gases

b) Experimental diffusivity data

Available in Perry and Green or Reid at al.
Typical data as in Geankoplis pg 424.

27

5.

Diffusion coefficients for gases

c) Prediction of diffusivity for gases

Semi-empirical method of Fuller et al.

10 7 T 1.75 1 / M A 1 / M B

1/ 2

D AB

Where

P v A

1/ 3

v B

1/ 3 2

Sum of structural volume increments

28

5.

Diffusion coefficients for gases

d) Schmidt number of gases

The Schmidt number of a gas mixture of dilute A in B is defined by:

N Sc
Where

D AB

pD AB

Viscosity of the gas mixture (B for dilute) (Pas or

kg/ms)
Diffusivity (m2/s)
Density of the mixture (kg/m3)

It is dimensionless. For gases, values range from 0.5 2.0.

29

Diffusion in Liquids
Outlines:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Equations for diffusion in liquids

Diffusion coefficients for liquids
Prediction of diffusivities in liquids
Prediction of diffusivities of electrolytes in
liquids

30

Diffusion in solids
Outlines:
1.
2.
3.

Types of diffusion in solids

Diffusion in solids following Ficks Law
Diffusion in porous solids that depend on
structure

31

Diffusion in biological solutions

and gels
Outlines:
1.
2.

Diffusion of biological solutes in liquids

Diffusion in biological gels

32