Mass Transfer

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Diffusion

were talking about molecules of cat here, so the term is diffusion. if its water were talking about, then its osmosis.

Diffusion
Whenever there is a concentration gradient difference of molecules exists, diffusion occurs. Molecules typically move from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. For example, when you add a spoonful of salt in a test tube, which is separated by a permeable membrane, the salt diffuses across the water. Solvent water Solute salt Net result diffusion Example in human body: Oxygen diffuses from an area of high concentration (artery) to an area of low concentration (cell).

Osmosis
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Now, in the above example, supposing if the membrane is selectively permeable , i.e., if the membrane allows only the movement of the solvent (water) and not the solute (salt), then osmosis results. Water will diffuse across the semi-permeable membrane from the low-solute concentration (no-salt) to the high solute concentration (salt), until solventequilibrium results. This net diffusion of water occurs passively, i.e., they do not require any energy

Role of Diffusion In MT
Diffusion may occur in one phase or in both phases in all the mass transfer operations
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In case of Distillation, the more volatile components diffuses through the liquid phase to the interface between the phases (liq & Vap phase) and away from the interface in to the vapor phase. In case of absorption, the solute gas diffuses through the gas phase to the interface and than through the liquid phase (solvent phase) from the interface between the phases. In case of crystallization , the solid solute diffuses through the mother liquor to the crystals and deposits on the solid surface. In case of drying the moisture diffuses through the solid towards the surface of the solids, evaporates and diffuses as vapor in the gas phase ( drying medium) In case of liq-liq extraction the liquid solute diffuses through the raffinate phase and than into extract phase (solvent phase) from the interface between the phases.

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Ficks Law of Diffusion Molecular Diffusion in Gases

Steady state equimolar counter diffusion Steady state diffusion of A through non-diffusing/stagnant B

Molecular Diffusion in Liquids

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Steady state equimolar counter diffusion Steady state diffusion of A through non-diffusing/stagnant B

Diffusion in solids
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Diffusion through a flat slab of thickness z

Mass Transfer Coefficients

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In most MTO, the turbulent flow is desired to increase the rate of transfer per unit area. In such cases, the mass transfer rate is expressed in term of mass transfer coefficients. In turbulent flow there are three regions of mass transfer, but as it is very difficult to know the value of distance in turbulent region through which the diffusion occurs it is considered that the entire resistance to mass transfer lies in a laminar sublayer of thickness z (effective laminar film thickness). The resistance offered by the effective laminar film thickness is approx the same as the combined resistance offered by the three regions in turbulent motion. The flux equations for such situations are of the type: Flux = (Mass transfer coefficient) x (Concentration difference)

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As concentration can be expressed in numbers of ways, there are variety of types of Mass Transfer Coefficients.

Mass transfer coefficient is thus defined as the rate of mass transfer per unit area per unit concentration difference. The flux obtained for the steady state equimolar counter diffusion (components A and B diffusing at the same molar rates in the opposite directions) for turbulent motion becomes.

For a given situation, the term

is constant and it can be termed as

the mass film transfer coefficient for the gas kG

The flux equation obtained for the steady state diffusion of A through non-diffusing B for turbulent motion may be written as:

The flux equation for the equimolar counter diffusion for the liquid phase is

Where ZL is the effective laminar film thickness and kL is the mass transfer film coefficient for the liquid or the liquid film mass transfer coefficient/individual mass transfer coefficient for the liquid phase Mass Transfer film coefficient may be defined as the rate of mass transfer from the bulk of one phase to an interface of an unit area. The flux equation for diffusion of through non diffusing B in terms of driving force expressed in terms of concentration and mole fraction are: For Gases For equlomolar counter diffusion For Liquid

Over all mass transfer coefficient (OMTC):

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The mass transfer film coefficient are difficult to measure except for the cases where the concentration difference across one phases is small and can thus be neglected. In such cases the OMTC are measured on the basis of the gas phase or liquid phase driving force. The flux equation in terms of the OMTC and the overall driving force for diffusion of A through non-diffusing B is given by:

Where KG is the OMTC and (pA-p*A) is the overall driving force for the gas phase in terms of partial pressure. p*A is the partial pressure of solute A over a solution having the composition of bulk liquid of CA.