Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology 1

Chapter 8

Nguyen Nhat Huy

nnhuy@hcmut.edu.vn
Objectives 2

 Introduce

 Basic of mass transfer

 After learning
 You can
 Calculate and convert the mass transfer
Chapter 8. Mass transfer 3

 Contents

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Phase equilibrium

8.3. Diffusion

8.4. Mass transfer

8.1. Introduction 4

 Mass transfer
 Mass transfer is the net movement of mass from
one location, usually meaning stream, phase,
fraction or component, to another.
 Mass transfer in a single phase: diffusion.
 Driving force: chemical potential (concentration,
temperature, pressure, velocity…)
8.1. Introduction 5

 Classification

 Based on the two phases in contact

Initial Final Process

Gas Liquid Absorption/condensation
Solid Adsorption
Liquid Gas Distillation/air stripping
Liquid Extraction
Solid Adsorption/crystallization

Solid Gas Drying

Liquid Extraction/Dissolution
8.1. Introduction 6

 Example of mass transfer in Environmental Engineering

Ozonation

SO2 Ion
absorption exchange

Mass transfer
in Env. Eng.

Activated
Air stripping
carbon

Chlorination
8.1. Introduction 7

Concentration Unit Gas phase Liquid phase

Mole fraction kmol A/ kmol

𝑦 𝑥
(A+B)
Mass fraction kg A/ kg (A+B)
𝑦 𝑥

Mole ratio kmol A/ kmol B

𝑌 𝑋

Mass ratio kg A/ kg B
𝑌 𝑋

Molar kmol A/ m3
𝐶𝑦 𝐶𝑥
concentration (A+B)
Mass kg A/ m3 (A+B)
𝐶𝑦 𝐶𝑥
concentration
8.1. Introduction 8

 Concentration conversion
8.1. Introduction 9

 In gas phase (ppm = ppmv)

volume of pollutant
𝑝𝑝𝑚 = × 106
volume of gas mixture
 Conversion from mg/m3 to ppm

𝐶 𝑚𝑔 𝑚3 × 22.4 𝑡 + 273.15
𝐶(𝑝𝑝𝑚) = ×
𝑀 273.15
 Where:
 t: temperature (oC)
 M: molecular weight of the pollutant (kg/kmol)
1.1.4. Concentration 10

 In liquid phase or solid phase (ppm = ppmm)

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑝𝑝𝑚 = × 106
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑/𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
 In water
 Density of solution ≈ 1 kg/L
 1 ppm ≈ 1 mg/L = 1 g/m3
8.2. Phase equilibrium 11

 Henry’s law
𝑝∗ = 𝐻 × 𝑥
 Where:
 p*: equilibrium partial pressure of pollutant in air
(atm)
 H: Henry constant (Henry solubility) (atm)
 x: equilibrium mole fraction of pollutant in liquid
 Applied for water and dilute solution of water
8.2. Phase equilibrium 12

 Henry’s law SO2

0.7
 Other form
0.6 y = 44.247x
∗ ∗
𝑦 =𝑝 𝑃 =𝑚×𝑥 R² = 0.9964
0.5
 Where:
0.4

y*
 m: from graph
0.3
 H = P×m
0.2

0.1

0.0
0.000 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.010 0.012 0.014
x
8.2. Phase equilibrium 13

 Raoult’s law
𝑝∗ = 𝑃𝑜 × 𝑥
 Where:
 p*: equilibrium partial pressure of pollutant in air
(atm)
 Po: saturated vapor pressure of pollutant (atm)
 x: equilibrium mole fraction of pollutant in liquid
 Applied for organic solvents
8.2. Phase equilibrium 14

 Henry’s constant
8.3. Diffusion 15

 Fick’s law
 The flux goes from regions of high concentration to
regions of low concentration, with a magnitude that
is proportional to the concentration gradient
𝜕𝐶𝐴
𝐽𝐴 = −𝐷𝐴𝐵
𝜕𝑧
 Where”
 JA: flux of A (amount of A per unit area per unit
time)
𝜕𝐶𝐴
 : concentration gradient
𝜕𝑧
 DAB: diffusivity (diffusion coefficient) of A in B
8.3. Diffusion 16

 Diffusivity in gas phase

−3 1.5 1 2
4.3 × 10 𝑇 1 1
𝐷𝐴𝐵 = 2 +
𝑀𝐴 𝑀𝐵
𝑃 𝑉𝐴1 3 + 𝑉𝐵1 3
 Where:
 DAB: diffusivity of gas A in gas B (cm2/s)
 T: temperature (K)
 MA, MB: molecular weight of A and B (g/mole)
 VA, VB: molecular volume of A and B (cm3/mole)
 P: pressure (atm)
8.3. Diffusion 17

 Diffusivity in liquid phase

7.4 × 10−8 Φ𝑀𝐵 0.5
𝑇
𝐷𝐴𝐵 =
𝜇′ 𝑉𝐴0.6
 Where:
 DAB: diffusivity of A in solution B (cm2/s)
 T: temperature (K)
 MA: molecular weight of solution B (g/mole)
 VA: molecular volume of A (cm3/mole)
 Φ = 2.6 for water
 µ’: viscosity of solution (cP = mPa.s)
8.3. Diffusion 18

 Molecular volume (cm3/atom)

Exercise 19

 Exercise #1
 Calculate the diffusivity in air and in water of HCl at
40 oC
 Exercise #2
 Calculate the Henry’s constant of HF in water at
30 oC
8.4. Mass transfer 20

 Rate of mass transfer

 Rate of mass transfer = mass transfer coefficient ×
driving force
Rate of mass transfer Unit of mass transfer coefficient

NA=kG×ΔPA mol/(time×area×pressure)
NA=ky×ΔyA mol/(time×area×mole fraction)
NA=kC×ΔCA mol/(time×area×mol/volume) or
(length)/(time)

NA=kx×ΔxA mol/(time×area×mole fraction)

NA=kL×ΔCA mol/(time×area×mol/volume) or
(length)/(time)
8.4. Mass transfer 21

 Exercise #3
 Air at pressure of 1.01 atm contains 14%
(volume/volume) acetylene (C2H2) and water
contains acetylene with concentration of 0.29×10-3
kg/kg is contacted at temperature of 25 oC. Henry’s
constant of acetylene H = 1.33×103 atm
 Determine the mass transfer direction
 Calculate the initial driving force for mass transfer
(mole ratio, mole fraction, and pressure)
8.4. Mass transfer 22

 Exercise 4
 The overall mas transfer in an absorber is Kc = 10.4
kmol/m2.h(kmol/m3). The inert gas phase and
liquid phase are nitrogen gas and water,
respectively. The pressure and temperature in the
absorber are 1 atm and 25 oC. Determine the
overall mas transfer in the unit of:
 kmol/m2.h.(Δy = 1)
 kmol/m2.h.(mmHg)
 kg/m2.h.(kg/kg inert gas)
8.4. Mass transfer 23

 Mass transfer coefficient conversion

 In gas phase
𝑃𝐵𝑀 𝑃𝐵𝑀
𝑘𝐺 × 𝑃𝐵𝑀 = 𝑘𝑦 = 𝑘𝑐
𝑃𝑡 𝑅×𝑇
 In liquid phase
𝑘𝑥 = 𝑘𝐿 × 𝐶
 Where
𝑃𝐵2 − 𝑃𝐵1
𝑃𝐵𝑀 =
𝑃𝐵2
ln
𝑃𝐵1
8.4. Mass transfer 24

 Dimensionless number in mass transfer

 Reynolds number = the ratio of inertial forces to
viscous forces
𝜌×v×𝐷
𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇

 Schmidt number = the ratio between the rates of

turbulent transport of momentum and the turbulent
transport of mass
𝜇
𝑆𝑐 =
𝜌 × 𝐷𝐴𝐵
8.4. Mass transfer 25

 Dimensionless number in mass transfer

 Sherwood number = the ratio of the convective
mass transfer to the rate of diffusive mass transport
𝑘𝐶 × 𝐿
𝑆ℎ =
𝐷𝐴𝐵

 Peclet number = the ratio of the rate of advection to

the rate of diffusion
𝐷×v
𝑃𝑒 = 𝑅𝑒 × 𝑆𝑐 =
𝐷𝐴𝐵
8.4. Mass transfer 26

 Mass transfer coefficient

 Flow in pipe
0.14
0.8 1 3
𝜇
𝑆ℎ = 0.023 × 𝑅𝑒 × 𝑆𝑐
𝜇𝑤
 Normally, µ/µw = 1 (fluid viscosity at wall)

 Evaporation of liquid at wetted wall

𝑆ℎ = 0.23 × 𝑅𝑒 0.81 × 𝑆𝑐 0.44 0.6 ≤ Sc ≤ 2.5
𝑆ℎ = 0.0096 × 𝑅𝑒 0.913 × 𝑆𝑐 0.346 430 ≤ Sc ≤ 10000
8.4. Mass transfer 27

 Mass transfer coefficient

 Flow passing a single sphere (Re ≤ 1000)
𝑆ℎ = 2.0 × 1 + 0.276 × 𝑅𝑒 1/2 × 𝑆𝑐1/3

 Mass transfer in packed tower (40 – 45%)

𝑆ℎ = 1.17 × 𝑅𝑒 0.585 × 𝑆𝑐1/3

 Mass transfer in bubble and droplet

1/2
2 𝐷ℎ × 𝑢𝑜 × 𝜌 𝜇
𝑆ℎ = ×
𝜋 𝜇 𝜌 × 𝐷𝐴𝐵