University of Wah,

Department of Chemical Engineering

UNIVERSITY OF WAH
WAH ENGINEERING COLLEGE
Department of Chemical Engineering
Assignment # 05
Course Title: Mass Transfer Fundamentals
Semester: Fall 2019 Course Teacher: Aasia Farrukh
Total Marks: 100 Time: 4 days (16/12/2019)
Course Code: Ch. E-304
Student Name_____________________Reg No._______________________
Assignment Title: Assignment 5

Course Program Learning Domain

Learning Learning
Outcome Outcome
CLO-2 PLO-2 Cognitive 3

PLO-2: Problem Analysis

CLO-2: Model/Solve

Q1. [20 points]

In an experimental wetted wall column, pure carbon dioxide is absorbed in water. The mass transfer
rate is calculated using the penetration theory, application of which is limited by the fact that the
concentration should not reach more than 1 per cent of the saturation value at a depth below the
surface at which the velocity is 95 per cent of the surface velocity. What is the maximum length of
column to which the theory can be applied if the flowrate of water is 3 cm3/s per cm of perimeter?
Viscosity of water = 10-3 N s/m2. Diffusivity of carbon dioxide in water = 1.5 x 10-9 m2/s
Q2. [20 points]
In a gas-liquid contactor, a pure gas is absorbed in a solvent and the Penetration Theory provides a
reasonable model by which to describe the transfer mechanism. As fresh solvent is exposed to the gas,
the transfer rate is initially limited by the rate at which the gas molecules can reach the surface. If at
293 K and a pressure of I bar the maximum possible rate of transfer of gas is 50 m3/m2s, express this
as an equivalent resistance, when the gas solubility is 0.04 kmol/rn3. If the diffusivity in the liquid
phase is 1.8 x 10-9 m2/s, at what time after the initial exposure will the resistance attributable to
access of gas be equal to about 10 per cent of the total resistance to transfer?

Q3.[20 points]

A deep pool of ethanol is suddenly exposed to an atmosphere of pure carbon dioxide and unsteady state
mass transfer, governed by Fick's Law, takes place for 100 s. What proportion of the absorbed carbon
dioxide will have accumulated in the 1 mm layer closest to the surface in this period?
Diffusivity of carbon dioxide in ethanol = 4 x 10-9 m2/s.

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 University of Wah,
Department of Chemical Engineering

Q4.[20 points]

A large deep bath contains molten steel, the surface of which is in contact with air. The oxygen
concentration in the bulk of the molten steel is 0.03% by mass and the rate of transfer of oxygen from
the air is sufficiently high to maintain the surface layers saturated at a concentration of 0.16% by
weight. The surface of the liquid is disrupted by gas bubbles rising to the surface at a frequency of
120 bubbles per m2 of surface per second, each bubble disrupts and mixes about 15 cm2 of the
surface layer into the bulk. On the assumption that the oxygen transfer can be represented by a surface
renewal model, obtain the appropriate equation for mass transfer by starting with Fick’s second law of
diffusion and calculate:
(a) The mass transfer coefficient
(b) The mean mass flux of oxygen at the surface
(c) The corresponding film thickness for a film model, giving the same mass transfer rate.
Diffusivity of oxygen in steel = 1.2 x 10 -8 m2/s. Density of molten steel = 7100 kg/m3.

Q5.[20 points]

4 cm3 of mixture formed by adding 2 cm3 of acetone to 2 cm3 of dibutyl phthalate is contained in a 6
mm diameter vertical glass tube immersed in a thermostat maintained at 315 K. A stream of air at 315
K and atmospheric pressure is passed over the open top of the tube to maintain a zero partial pressure
of acetone vapour at that point. The liquid level is initially 11.5 mm below the top of the tube and the
acetone vapour is transferred to the air stream by molecular diffusion alone. The dibutyl phthalate can
be regarded as completely non-volatile and the partial pressure of acetone vapour may be calculated
from Raoult’s law on the assumption that the density of dibutyl phthalate is sufficiently greater than
that of acetone for the liquid to be completely mixed.
Calculate the time taken for the liquid level to fall to 5 cm below the top of the tube, neglecting the
effects of bulk flow in the vapour. 1 kmol occupies 22.4 m3. Molecular weights of acetone, dibutyl
phthalate = 58 and 279 kg/kmol respectively. Liquid densities of acetone, dibutyl phthalate = 764 and
1048 kg/m3 respectively. Vapour pressure of acetone at 315 K = 60.5 kN/m2. Diffusivity of acetone
vapour in air at 315 K = 0.123 cm2/s.

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