[1]: Mass-transfer operations by Robert Ewald Treybal.
[2]: Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 7th edition, by Warren McCabe, Julian Smith, Peter
Harriott.
29/08/2021 (12:00)
2.1[1] In an oxygen-nitrogen gas mixture at . 25 , the concentrations of oxygen at two
planes apart are and , respectively. Calculate the flux of diffusion of the oxygen
for the case where:
(a) The nitrogen is nondiffusing. Ans.: 4 .
(b) There is equimolar counterdiffusion of the two gases.
Solution
(a)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
(b)
Equimolar counterdiffussion:
Therefore:
1
( ) ( )
2.2[1] Repeat the calculations of Prob. 2.1 for a total pressure of .
Solution
(a)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
(b)
Equimolar counterdiffussion:
Therfore:
( ) ( )
2.3[1] Estimate the diffusivities of the following gas mixtures:
(a) Acetone-air, STP ( ). Ans.: .
(b) Nitrogen-carbon dioxide, , 25 .
(c) Hydrogen chloride-air, , 25°C. Ans.: .
2
(d) Toluene-air, , . Reported value [Gilliland, Ind. Eng. Chem., 26, 681 (1934)]
(e) Aniline-air, STP. Observed value (Gilliland, loc. cit.).
Solution
(a)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
(b)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
(c)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
3
(d)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
(e)
( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
2.4[1] The diffusivity of carbon dioxide in helium is reported to be at ,
. Estimate the diffusivity at , . Reported value [Seager,
Geertson, and Giddings, J. Chem. Eng. Data, 8, 168 (1963)].
Solution
( )
( )
At :
At :
4
2.5[1] Ammonia is diffusing through a stagnant gas mixture consisting of one-third nitrogen and
two-thirds hydrogen by volume. The total pressure is abs ( ) and the
temperature ( ). Calculate the rate of diffusion of the ammonia through a film of gas
thick when the concentration change across the film is ammonia by volume.
Ans.: 2 .
Solution
* +
( )
( )
[ ]
( )
* +
( )
( )
[ ]
( )
5
( )
( )
( )
03/09/2021 (17:00)
Example (Chapter 2, slide 79) Diffusion of H2 through Neoprene membrane:
The gas hydrogen at and partial pressure is diffusing through a membrane on
vulcanized neoprene rubber thick. The pressure of H 2 on the other side of neoprene is
zero. Calculate the steady-state flux, assuming that the only resistance to diffusion is in the
membrane. The solubility S of H 2 gas in neoprene at is (at STP of and
)/ solid. and the diffusivity is at . Ans.:
Solution
Example (Chapter 2, slide 80) Diffusion through a packaging film using permeability:
A polythene film ( ) thick is being considered for use in packaging a
pharmaceutical product at . If the partial pressure of outside the package is and
inside is , calculate the flux of diffusion of at steady state. Assume that the resistances
6
to diffusion outside and inside is negligible compared to the resistance of the film. Permeability of
in polythene at is solute (STP). /( ) . Ans.:
Would you prefer nylon to polythene? Permeability of in nylon at is
solute (STP). /( ). Support your answer.
Solution
Because so that using nylon is more efficient.
17.1[2] Carbon dioxide is diffusing through nitrogen in one direction at atmospheric pressure and
. The mole fraction of at point A is ; at point B, away, in the direction of diffusion, it
is . The concentration gradient is constant over this distance. Diffusivity is .
The gas phase as a whole is stationary; i.e., nitrogen is diffusing at the same rate as the carbon
dioxide, but in the opposite direction. (a) What is the molar flux of , in kilogram moles per
square meter per hour? (b) What is the net mass flux, in kilograms per square meter per hour?
Solution
(a) Equimolar counter-diffusion:
( ) ( )
(b)
( )
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08/09/2021 (15:30)
Example (Chapter 3)
The mass flux from a diameter naphthalene ball placed in stagnant air at and
atmospheric pressure, is . Assume the vapor pressure of naphthalene to be
at and negligible bulk concentration of naphthalene in air. If air starts blowing
across the surface of naphthalene ball at by what factor will the mass transfer rate increase,
all other condition remain constant?
Solution
Table (Heat Transfer – J.P.Holman):
Steps:
* + ( )
( ) ( )
8
( ) ( )
12/09/2021 (10:40)
Example 1 (Chapter 4, Slide 34)
An exhaust stream from a containing 3 mole% acetone in air is fed to a mass transfer column in
which the acetone is stripped by countercurrent, falling water stream. The tower is
operated at a total pressure of . If a combination of Raoult-Dalton equilibrium
relation may be used to determine the distribution of acetone between the air and aqueous
phases, determine (a) the mole fraction of acetone within the aqueous phase which would be in
equilibrium with the 3 mole% acetone gas mixture, and (b) the mole fraction of acetone in the
gas phase which would be in equilibrium with acetone in the aqueous phase.
Solution
(a) Vapor pressure of pure acetone:
(b)
Example 2 (Chapter 4, Slide 36)
’ w constant for oxygen dissolved in water is (mole of oxygen per
total mole of solution) at . Determine the solution weight concentration of oxygen in water
which exposed to dry air at and .
9
Solution
Example 3 (Chapter 4, Slide 39)
In an experiment study of the absorption of ammonia by water in a wetted-wall column, the
overall mass-transfer coefficient, , was found to be .
At one point in the column, the gas phase contained 8 mole% ammonia and the liquid-phase
concentration was . The tower operated at and
.A ’ ( ).
If of the total resistance to mass transfer is encountered in the gas phase, determine (a) the
individual film mass-transfer coefficients ( ) and (b) the interfacial compositions ( ).
Solution
( )
(a) Individual mass-transfer coefficients:
(b) Interfacial compositions:
( ’ )
( ’ )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
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Example 4 (Chapter 4, Slide 44)
A wastewater stream is introduced to the top of a mass-transfer tower where it flows
countercurrent to an air stream. At one point in the tower, the wastewater stream contains
A and the air is essentially free of any A. At the operation conditions within the
tower, the film mass-transfer coefficients are ( ) and the
’
with ( ). Determine the following (a) the overall mass flux of A; (b) the
overall mass-transfer coefficients, and .
Solution
( )
(a)
( ) ( )
(b)
( )
11
22/09/2021 (18:00)
Teaching assistance 1 (16/09/2021)
Example 5: A mixture gas contains 30 vol.% methane, 30% vol.% ethane and 40 vol.% pentane is
at . Calculate the (a) mass flow rate, (b) mole flow rate, (c) partial pressure, (d) mole
fraction and (e) mole ratio concentration of each component if the flow rate of gas stream is
.
Solution
(a) Mass flow rate
̅ ̇ ( )
̇ ̅
̇ ( )
̅
̇ ( )
̅
(b) Mole flow rate
(c) Partial pressure
(d) Mole fraction
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(e) Mole ratio concentration
Example 6: Ammonia gas is diffusing at a constant rate through a layer if stagnant air 1 mm thick.
Conditions are fixed so that the gas contains 50% by volume of ammonia at one bou ndary of the
stagnant layer. The ammonia diffusing to the other boundary is quickly absorbed and the
concentration is negligible at that plane. The temperature is 295K and the pressure atmospheric.
Calculate the rate if diffusing of ammonia through the layer.
Solution
( ) ( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
( )
13
30/09/2021 (14:00)
Problem 1 (Chapter 6): The ammonia in the air at was absorbed by pure water
( ) in the tray tower with countercurrent flow. The flow of gas inlet is . If the
concentration of ammonia was reduced from to (volumetric), the water rate of
times the minimum is to be used. Find: (a) the minimum rate ; (b) the flow rate of water has
been used; (c) concentration of ammonia in water; (d) number of ideal tray.
Equilibrium data at are:
X, 0.0164 0.0252 0.0349 0.0455 0.0722
Y, 0.021 0.032 0.042 0.053 0.08
Solution
Step 1: Find the gas flow rate
( ) ( ) ( )
0.045
0.042
0.04
0.035
0.032
0.03
0.025 Equilibrium curve
0.021 Operating curve (min Ls)
0.02
Operating curve (real)
0.015
0.01
0.005
0 0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04
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( ) ( )
( ) ( )
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
15
03/10/2021 (15:00)
Problem 2 (Chapter 6): The ammonia in the air ( ) in the packed tower with co-current flow.
The flow of gas inlet is . If the concentration of ammonia was reduced from to
1.26% (volumetric), the water rate of times the minimum to be used. Find: (a) The
minimum rate ; (b) The flow rate of water has been used; (c) the concentration of ammonia
in water; (d) Repeat the calculation if countercurrent flow had been used and the flow rate of
water is ’ solve the question (a) and (c).
Equilibrium data at are:
X, 0.0164 0.0252 0.0349 0.0455 0.0722
Y, 0.021 0.032 0.042 0.053 0.08
Solution
Step 1: Find the gas flow rate
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
(a)
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(b)
(c)
(d)
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
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06/10/2021 (15:00)
Illustration 8.2 A coal gas is to be freed of its light oil by scrubbing with wash oil as an absorbent
and the light oil recovered by stripping the resulting solution with steam. The circumstances are
as follows.
Absorber Gas in, ( ) at , ( )
containing by volume of light oil vapors (with other non-diffusing gases). The light oil will
be assumed to be entirely benzene, and a removal is required. The wash oil is to enter at
, containing fraction benzene and has an average molecular weight 260. An oil
circulation rate of times the minimum is to be used. Wash oil-benzene solutions are ideal. The
temperature will be constant at .
Stripper The solution from the absorber is to be heated to and will enter the stripper at
pressure. Stripping steam will be at standard atmospheric pressure, superheated to
. The debenzolized oil, mole fraction benzene, is to be cooled to and returned to
the absorber. A steam rate of times the minimum is to be used. The temperature will be
constant at .
Compute the oil-circulation rate and the steam rate required.
Solution
1. Absorber
First we find and
( )
( ) ( )
( )
Then we plot the equilibrium curve and find
18
Benzene at , for ideal solution and
. Therefore,
Find the tangent line of equilibrium curve going through point A
( )
( )
( )
{
( )
{
( )
,
( )
{ ( )
19
( ) ( )
Now we can find the mole flow rate of solvent and
( ) ( )
Operating line is AB
2. Stripper
First we determine and
Then we plot the equilibrium curve and find
Benzene at , for ideal solution and
. Therefore,
Find the tangent line of equilibrium curve going through point D
( )
( )
20
( )
{ {
( )
( )
,
( )
{ ( )
( ) ( )
Now we can find the mole flow rate of solvent and
( ) ( )
Operating line is DS
21
Midterm Exam – 26th Apr 2019
Lecturer: Dr. Trần Tấn Việt
Question 1 (3.0 points)
A mixture gas stream which the flow rate is , contains vol , vol and
% mol is at , . Calculate the mass flow rate, mole flow rate, partial pressure
and mass fraction concentration of each component.
Problem summary
( ) ̅ ( ) ( ) ̅ ( )
Solution
Mole flow rate
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
Mass flow rate
̅ ( ) ( )
̅ ( ) ( )
̅ ( ) ( )
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Partial pressures
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Mass fraction concentration
̅
̅
̅
̅
̅ ̅ ̅
Question 2 (3.0 points)
Benzene vapor is diffusing through a stagnant gas mixture consisting of one-third and two-
thirds by volume. The total pressure is and the temperature is . Calculate the rate
of diffusion of the benzene vapor through a film of gas thickness when the concentration
change across the film is to benzene vapor by volume.
Problem summary
( )
Solution
( )
( ) ( )
* + [ ]
23
( ) ( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
Question 3 (4.0 points)
The in the air ( ) was absorbed by pure water ( ) in the tray tower with
countercurrent flow. The flow of gas inlet is . If the concentration of was reduced
from to (volumetric), the water rate of times the minimum is to be used.
(a) Find the flow rate of water has been used and the concentration of in the water?
(b) Find the theoretical tray of this column.
The equilibrium data of in water at are:
0.017 0.025 0.035 0.046 0.072
0.021 0.032 0.042 0.053 0.080
Problem summary
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
24
Solution
Step 1: Find and mole ratio
̇ ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
Step 2: Draw the equilibrium curve and find
Base on the graph, we have
( ) ( ) ( )
Step 3: Find ( )
( )
25
( )
( ) ( )
( )
Step 4: Find theoretical trays ( )
07/10/2021 (10:33)
Midterm exam – 9th June 2020
Lecturer: Dr. Trần Tấn Việt
Question 1 (4.0 points)
Toluene is diffusing through a stagnant gas mixture consisting of and with volume ratio
. The total pressure is and the temperature is . Calculate the rate of diffusion of
the toluene vapor through a film of gas thickness when then concentration change across
the film is to toluene vapor by volume.
Problem summary
( ) ( )
( )
Solution
( )
( ) ( )
* + [ ]
( ) ( )
* + [ ]
26
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
Question 2 (6.0 points)
We are absorbing hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) in biogas at into water by countercurrent
stage absorber (tray tower). The entering water is pure. The feed gas contains mole fraction
H2S and the remaining is CH4, we want to remove mole of H2S in biogas into water. The gas
flow rate is , while the liquid flow rate is . The equilibrium data is:
Partial pressure of ( ) ( ’ )
Where ’ H2S in water at is (mole fraction) and is mole fraction
of H2S. Determine:
(a) The minimum liquid-gas ratio for the absorber?
(b) The liquid flow rate and concentration of H2S in outlet water?
(c) The number of theoretical stages of absorber required?
Problem summary
( ) ̇ ( )
( )
( )[ ] ( ) ( ) ( )
27
Solution
Step 1: Find and mole ratio
̇ ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
Step 2: Draw the equilibrium curve and find ( )
( )
0.00002 0.00004 0.00006 0.00008 0.0001
0.004 0.008 0.012 0.016 0.02
Base on the graph, we have
001
28
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
[ ]
( )
Step 3: Find ( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
Step 4: Find theoretical trays ( )
29
