2015 Sem 1 CN3132

Separation Processes (II)

Lecture 02:
Mass Transfer Coefficient
Wankat 3rd: 15.4; 15.4.1
Treybal: Chapter 3

Dr. ZHAO Dan

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
4 Engineering Drive 4, Blk E5, #02-16
Tel: (65) 6516 4679
chezhao@nus.edu.sg

Review: Concept

Equilibrium vs. rate

Mass transfer
Model 1: molecular movement
Model 2: Ficks law

Gas diffusivity
Liquid diffusivity
Diffusion + convection
Equimolar Counterdiffusion (EMD)
Unimolecular Diffusion (UMD)

Review: Equation
J Az DAB
DAB

NA

T 3/2 (1/ MW )1/2

ptot 2

cA
dc
( N A N B ) DAB A
c
dz

NA

NA

dcA
dz

J Bz
0
AB

dcB
DBA
dz

1.173 1016 [ B ( MWB )]1/2 T

BVA0.6

NB

cB
dc
( N A N B ) DBA B
c
dz

DAB (cA1 cA2 ) cDAB ( xA1 xA2 ) DAB ( pA1 pA2 )

[EMD]
( z2 z1 )
( z2 z1 )
RT ( z2 z1 )

DAB (cA1 cA2 )

cD ( x x )
D ( p p A2 )
c
1
p

AB A1 A2
AB A1

[UMD]
z2 z1
(c cA )lm
( z2 z1 )
(1 xA )lm
RT ( z2 z1 )
( p p A )lm
3

Learning Outcomes of Lecture 02

Derive linear driving-force models for EMD and UMD

Practice the conversion of mass transfer coefficient
Describe the expression and physical meaning of Henrys Law
Practice the conversion of Henrys law constant
Understand two-film theory
Practice the determination of interfacial compositions for
EMD and UMD

Models for Mass Transfer:

(3) Linear Driving-Force Model
Flux = (mass-transfer rate)/area
= (mass-transfer coefficient) (driving force)

J A kc (cA1 cA2 )
J A kx ( xA1 xA2 )
J A k y ( yA1 y A2 )
J A k p ( pA1 pA2 )

Linear Driving-Force Model:

Equimolar Counterdiffusion (EMD)
Gases:

N A k (cA1 cA2 )

DAB

N A k ( y A1 y A2 )

cDAB

N A k ( pA1 pA2 )

DAB
k
RT

N A k (cA1 cA2 )

DAB

N A k ( xA1 xA2 )

cDAB

'
c

'
y

'
G

'
c

'
y

'
G

Liquids:
'
L
'
x

'
L
'
x

Linear Driving-Force Model:

Unimolecular Diffusion (UMD)
Gases:

N A kc (cA1 cA2 )

cDAB
c
'
kc
kc
(cB )lm
(cB )lm

N A k y ( yA1 yA2 )

cDAB
1
'
ky
ky
( yB )lm
( yB )lm

N A kG ( pA1 pA2 )

pDAB
p
'
kG
kG
RT ( pB )lm
( pB )lm

N A kL (cA1 cA2 )

cDAB
c
'
kL
kL
(cB )lm
(cB )lm

N A kx ( xA1 xA2 )

cDAB
1
'
kx
kx
( xB )lm
( xB )lm

Liquids:

Conversion of Mass Transfer Coefficient

Gases:

Liquids:

cDAB

RT
c
1
'
'
kc
ky
kG' c
RT
RT
(cB )lm
( yB )lm
c( pB )lm
kc
ky
kG
RT
RT
p

cDAB

k c k
'
L

'
L

k x'

MW
k L (cB )lm k x ( xB )lm

Comparison of Three Models

Models

Pros

Cons

Molecular Movement

Intuitive
Good for physical
understanding

Detailed theory is
quite complicated
Hard to apply

Ficks Law

Widely accepted
Works well for ideal
systems

Difficult for non-ideal

ternary systems

Linear Driving-Force

Widely used by
chemical engineers

Weak theoretical
background
May fail where Fickian
model fails
9

Mass Transfer Between Phases

10

Henrys Law
"At a constant temperature, the
amount of a given gas that dissolves in
a given type and volume of liquid is
directly proportional to the partial
pressure of that gas in equilibrium with
that liquid.
pB HxB

H H 0 exp(

E
)
RT

p
H
yB B yB
xB H ' xB
ptot
ptot

xB

cB
H
pB cB H ''cB
c
c

yB

H
H cB
H
xB

cB H '''cB
ptot
ptot c
ptot c

William Henry (1774-1836)

pB: partial pressure of B in the vapor
(Pa)
xB: mole fraction of B in the liquid
yB: mole fraction of B in the vapor
ptot: total pressure (Pa)
cB: concentration of B in the liquid
(mol/L)
c: total concentration (mol/L)
H, H, H, H: Henrys law constant
11

Henrys Law Constants (atm/mole frac.)

12

Two-Film Theory
Gas phase

Liquid phase

Gas phase

pAb

Liquid phase

pAb

pAi

pAi
cAi

cAi
G L

cAb

cAb

At the phase interface, cAi and pAi are in equilibrium

cAi f ( pAi )
N A k ( pAb pAi ) k (cAi cAb ) [EMD]
'
G

'
L

N A kG ( pAb pAi ) kL (cAi cAb ) [UMD]

13

Interfacial Compositions (EMD)

N A kG' ( pAb pAi ) kL' (cAi cAb )

Gas phase

Liquid phase

pAb

p Ab p Ai
k

cAb cAi
k

'
L
'
G

pAi

cAi
G L

pA

cAb

pAb
Equilibrium
curve

pAi
cAb

cAi

cA

14

Interfacial Compositions (UMD)

N A kG ( pAb pAi ) kL (cAi cAb )
pAb pAi
kL
kL'
c ( pB )lm

'
cAb cAi
kG
kG (cB )lm p

(cB )lm (c cA )lm

( pB )lm ( p p A )lm

(c cAi ) (c cAb )
c cAi
ln
c cAb

( p p Ab ) ( p p Ai )
p p Ab
ln
p p Ai

pA
pAb
Equilibrium
curve

pAi
cAb

cAi

cA

15

Example Question (1)

Both vapour A and gas B can be dissolved in water. The

Henrys law constant for vapour A is 0.5 and for gas B is 1.2
atm. For an equal molar mixture of A and B under a total
pressure of 3 atm, which one can reach a higher molar
concentration in water?
a)
b)
c)
d)

Vapour A
Gas B
Vapour A equals gas B
Can not be determined

16

Example Question (2)

A mixed gas containing 6% volume fraction of solute A gets in

contact with an aqueous solution containing 0.012 mole
fraction of solute A. The equilibrium relationship of solute A
in gas and water follows Y* = 2.25X. Determine the mass
transfer direction of A.

17