Topic 3

Mass Transfer Theories and

Coefficients (I)

AECH 4210 Mass Transfer & Separation Processes

 Similarities between Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer
a) Viscosity : NEWTON’S LAW: MOMENTUM TRANSFER – Fluid flow
If force F will be required to maintain
the motion of lower plate, and if flow
is laminated, i.e. laminar, then:

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 Similarities between Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer
b) Thermal Conductivity : FOURIER’S LAW: HEAT TRANSFER

A constant rate of heat flow, Q through the slab is required to maintain the temperature difference
ΔT = TI – To across the distance L.
To
L
T −T Q = k T
Q = kA I O or TI
L A L T
Q

Therefore,
Q T

A
(heat flow / unit area)
L
(driving force / distance)
Similar to Newton’s Law of Viscosity

dT
q z = −k (Fourier' s Law of Heat Conduction)
dz

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 Similarities between Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer
c) Diffusivity : FICK’S LAW: MASS TRANSFER

FOR A BINARY MIXTURE:

For one dimensional diffusion, molar flux of species A is

dx A dc A
J A = −CD AB = −D AB
dz dz

dc A
 JA 
dz

Species diffuses in the direction of decreasing mole fraction (or concentration) of A, just as heat flows by
conduction in the direction of decreasing temperature.

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 Mass transfer theories

1. The Film Theory

1.1. Whitman Two-Film Theory
2. The Penetration Theory
3. Surface Renewal Theory
4. The Film - Penetration Theory

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 1. The Film Theory
• A model for turbulent mass transfer to or from a fluid-phase boundary was suggested in 1904 by Nernst,
who postulated that the resistance to mass transfer in a given turbulent fluid phase is in a thin, relatively
stagnant region at the interface, called a film.

• The gas is component A, which diffuses into non-volatile liquid B.

Thus, a process of absorption of A into liquid B takes place,
without vaporization of B, and there is no resistance to mass
transfer of A in the gas phase, because it is pure A.
• At the interface, phase equilibrium is assumed, so the
concentration of A at the interface, 𝑐𝐴𝑖 , is related to the partial
pressure of A at the interface, 𝑝𝐴 , by a solubility relation like
Henry’s law.
• In the liquid film of thickness 𝛿, molecular diffusion occurs with
a driving force of 𝑐𝐴𝑖 − 𝑐𝐴𝑏 , where 𝑐𝐴𝑏 is the bulk-average
concentration of A in the liquid.

If the liquid phase is dilute in A,

the bulk-flow effect can be neglected
so that it applies to the total flux
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 1.1. The Two-Film Theory
• The two-film theory of Whitman (1923) was the first serious attempt to represent conditions occurring
when material is transferred in a steady state process from one fluid stream to another.
• In this approach, it is assumed that a laminar layer exists in each of the two fluids.
• Outside the laminar layer, turbulent eddies supplement the action caused by the random movement of the
molecules, and the resistance to transfer becomes progressively smaller as shown in Figure below.
• Equilibrium is assumed to exist at the interface and determined by the equilibrium relation between the
phases.

Stage (1) – Diffusion from the bulk of the gas to the liquid surface
Stage (2) – Solution in the liquid
Stage (3) – Diffusion from the surface into the bulk of liquid

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Concentration gradients for two-resistance theory: (a) film theory; (b) more realistic gradients.

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 2. The Penetration Theory
• The penetration theory was suggested in 1935 by Higbie who was investigating whether or not a resistance
to transfer existed at the interface when a pure gas was absorbed in a liquid.
• (1) move from the bulk liquid to the interface
(2) stay at the interface for a short, allowing molecular diffusion to
take place in a direction normal to the interface;
(3) leave the interface to mix with the bulk stream.

• When an eddy moves to the interface, it replaces a static eddy. Thus,

eddies are alternately static and moving. Turbulence extends to the
interface.
• In the penetration theory, unsteady-state diffusion takes place at
the interface during the time the eddy is static.
• Penetration theory is most useful for bubble, droplet, or random-
packing interfaces.

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Application of two film theory: Absorption Column

Aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solution

is commonly used for CO2 absorption.

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 The rate of overall mass transfer
per unit area

The rate of mass transfer per unit area The rate of mass transfer per unit area
from the gas film: from the liquid film:

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 The relation between the partial pressure (PA) and concentration (CA or xA):
Henry’s Law: The solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the
liquid.
𝑃𝐴∗ = 𝐻𝑥𝐴 Where PA*= equilibrium partial pressure,
xA = mole fraction in liquid,
H is Henry’s law constant.

At low concentrations, this

relationship approximates to a
straight line.

Henry’s law can also be met in other forms: 𝑃𝐴∗ = 𝐻 ′ 𝐶𝐴 and 𝑦𝐴∗ = 𝑚𝑥𝐴

Note: H is generally is independent of total pressure except at very high pressure. But it is a function of temperature. It
almost always increases with T, i.e. gases become less soluble as temperature is raised.
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Example 1: Using Henry’s Law to Calculate Gas Solubility

The partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas inside a bottle of cola is 4 atm at 25oC. What is the solubility
(concentration) of CO2?
The Henry’s law constant for CO2 dissolved in water is 3.3 x10-2 L·atm/mol at 25oC.

PLAN: We know P for CO2 (4 atm) and the value of H’, so we substitute these into the Henry’s law equation.

SOLUTION: C CO2 = PA*/H’ = (4 atm)/(3.3 x10-2 L·atm/mol) = 121 mol/L

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Example 2:

SOLUTION:
𝑃𝐴 = 𝐻𝑥𝐴

dry air contains 21 mole percent oxygen

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