MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)

Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Thus so far we have considered only the diffusion of substances within a single phase.
In most of the mass transfer operations, however, two insoluble phases are brought into contact in order to permit
transfer of constituent substances between them.
Therefore we are now concerned with the simultaneous application of the diffusional mechanism for each phase
to the combined system.
We have seen that the rate of diffusion within each phase is dependent upon the concentration gradient existing
within it.
At the same time the concentration gradients of the two-phase system are indicative of the departure from
equilibrium, which exists between the phases.
Should equilibrium be established, the concentration gradients and hence the rate of diffusion will fall to zero.
It is therefore, necessary, to consider both the diffusional phenomena and the equilibria in order to describe the
various situations fully.
Driving force for the Interphase mass transfer is departure from the equilibrium.

As an example, consider the gas-absorption operation, which occurs when ammonia is dissolved from an ammonia-
air mixture by liquid water.
Suppose a fixed amount of liquid water is placed in a closed container together with a gaseous mixture of ammonia
and air, the whole arranged so that the system can be maintained at constant temperature and pressure.
Since ammonia is very soluble in water, some ammonia molecules will instantly transfer from the gas into the
liquid, crossing the interfacial surface separating the two phases.
A portion of the ammonia molecules escapes back into the gas, at a rate proportional to their concentration in the
liquid. As more ammonia enters the liquid, with consequent increase in concentration within the liquid, the rate at
which returns to the gas increases, until eventually the rate at which it enters the liquid exactly equals that at which
it leaves.
At the same time, through the mechanism of diffusion, the concentrations throughout each phase become uniform.
A dynamic equilibrium now exists, and while ammonia molecules continue to transfer back and forth from one
phase to the other, the net transfer falls to zero.
The concentrations within each phase no longer change. To the observer who cannot see the individual molecules
the diffusion has apparently stopped.

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Equilibrium distribution curve

Now, calculate equilibrium compositions of component (NH3) in gas phase as well as liquid phase using raoult’s
law and draw equilibrium distribution curve-
YNH3. Pt = XNH3. P0
Where-
YNH3 is composition of NH3 in gas phase.
XNH3 is composition of NH3 in liquid phase.
P0 is vapour pressure
Pt is total pressure.

We can observe in the curve as we increase the temperature concentration in liquid phase decreases and
concentration in gas phase increases.
Generally speaking, whenever a substance is distributed between two insoluble phases, a dynamic equilibrium of
this type can be established.
The various equilibria are peculiar to the particular system considered. For example, replacement of the water in
the example considered above with another liquid such as benzene or with a solid adsorbent such as activated
carbon or replacement of the ammonia with another solute such as sulfur dioxide will each result in new curves
not at all related to the first.
The equilibrium resulting for a two-liquid-phase system bears no relation to that for a liquid-solid system.
A discussion of the characteristic shapes of the equilibrium curves for the various situations and the influence of
conditions such as temperature and pressure must be left for the studies of the individual unit operations.

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Nevertheless the following principles are common to all systems involving the distribution of substance in the two
insoluble phases:

Having established that departure from equilibrium provides the driving force for diffusion, we can now study the
rates of diffusion in terms of the driving forces.
Many of the mass transfer operations are carried out in steady-flow fashion, with continuous and invariant flow of
the contacted phases and under circumstances such that concentrations at any position in the equipment used do
not change with time.
It will be convenient to use one of these as an example with which to establish the principles and to generalize
respecting other operations later.
For this purpose, let us consider the absorption of a soluble gas such as ammonia (substance A) from mixture such
as air and ammonia, the wetted-wall tower previously described.
The ammonia-air mixture may enter at the bottom and flow upward while the water flows downward around the
inside of the pipe.
The gas mixture changes its composition from a high to a low solute concentration as it flows upward, while the
water dissolves the ammonia and leaves at the bottom as an aqueous ammonia solution.
Under steady-state conditions, the concentrations at any point in the apparatus do not change with passage of time.

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

LOCAL AND OVERALL MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT:

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer
SOLVED NUMERICALS

Ans-

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Ans-

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION-I (2150501)
Semester – V (CHEM)
CHAPTER: 4
Chapter Name: Inter Phase Mass Transfer

Prepared By: Mr. Dhiraj Tatar