Mass Transfer Operations - I

Prof. Bishnupada Mandal

Department of Chemical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Diffusion Mass Transfer

Lecture – 04
Steady State Molecular Diffusion in fluids under stagnant and laminar flow
conditions

Welcome to the 4th lecture on Mass Transfer Operations. In this lecture, we will discuss
the diffusion mass transfer in particular to the Steady State Molecular Diffusion under
stagnant and laminar flow conditions. Before going to the lecture let us have small recap
on the previous lecture. In the previous lecture we have considered the Fick’s law of
diffusions and we have considered study state diffusion and unsteady state diffusion.

(Refer Slide Time: 01:11)

In study sate diffusion we discuss the Fick’s first law and the second case we have
discussed the Fick’s second law which is applicable for unsteady state diffusion.
(Refer Slide Time: 01:47)

Now, steady state molecular diffusion in fluids under stagnant and laminar flow
conditions. Steady state diffusion through a constant area if we consider and then we
assume that steady state diffusion in the x direction without any chemical reactions in a
binary gaseous mixture of species A and B for one dimensional diffusions of species A.

We know the molar flux equations N A is equal to minus C D A B d y A d x plus y A N

this is N is the total mole molar flux is equal to N A plus N B. Now, separating the
variables in this equations this equation can be expressed as minus d y A divided by N A
minus y A N is equal to d x by C D A B so this is equation b.
(Refer Slide Time: 03:01)

Now, for the gaseous mixture at constant pressure and temperature the concentration and
diffusion coefficient D A B are constant and independent of position and composition
also all the molar fluxes are constant in equation b, equation b is minus d y A divided by
N A minus y A N is equal to d x C D A B.

Therefore, the equation b can be integrated between the 2 boundary conditions which is
given as follows at x is equal to x 1 y A would be equal to y A 1, y A is the mole fractions
of component A in the gas phase. At x is equal to x 2 y A would be equal to y A 2, y A 2
is the mole fractions of component 2 in the gas phase. So, 1 indicates the start of
diffusion path and 2 indicates the end of the diffusion path.
(Refer Slide Time: 04:15)

Now, if we integrate equation b with the above boundary conditions we can get integral y
A 1 to y A 2 minus d y A divided by N A minus y A N is equal to integral x 1 x 2 d x C D
A B. Let N A minus y A N would be equal to Z. So, from here we can write minus d y A
N would be equal to d Z and minus d y would be equal to d Z by N.

So, substituting the values in the above equations minus d y A it would be integral Z 1 to
Z 2 d Z by N Z would be equal to integral x 1 to x 2 d x C D A B. So, since N A minus y
A N is Z. So, it is Z and minus d y A over here which is substituted by d Z by N. So, it
becomes integral Z 1 to Z 2 d Z by N into Z is equal to integral x 1 to x 2 d x by C D A
B.
(Refer Slide Time: 06:01)

Now, integral Z 1 to Z 2 d Z by N Z equal to integral x 1 to x 2 d x C D A B can be

written as 1 by N into ln Z 2 minus ln Z 1 is equal to 1 by C D A B into x 2 minus x 1
and from that if we rearrange it would be ln Z 2 by Z 1 is equal to N by C D A B x 2
minus x 1. Now, if we substitute Z at Z 1 and Z 2 then it would be ln N A minus y A 2 N
divided by N A minus y A 1 N would be equal to N by C D A B x 2 minus x 1.

So, it would be ln N N A by N minus y A 2 divided by N into N A by N minus y A 1. If

we just multiply both numerator and the denominator by N it would be like this the left
hand side equation and the right hand side equations should be N A by C C D A B x 2
minus x 1 Now, if we multiply both sides with N A in this equation.
(Refer Slide Time: 07:51)

We will obtain N A would be equal to N A by N into C D A B by x 2 minus x 1 ln N A by

N minus y A 2 divided by N A by N minus y A 1. Therefore, after integration with the
boundary conditions the equation for diffusion for the said conditions can be expressed
as this relations. So, N A would be equal to N A by N C D A B by x 2 minus x 1 ln N A
by N minus y A 2 divided by N A by N minus y A 1.

(Refer Slide Time: 08:41)

Now, steady state diffusion through non diffusing B, for steady state one dimensional
diffusion of A through non diffusing B N B would be equal to 0 and N A would be equal
to constant. Therefore, the N A by N would be equal to N A by N A plus N B would be
equal to 0. Since N B is equal to 0. So, N A by N A plus N B would be equal to N A by N
A would be equal to 1. Hence equation c becomes N A is equal to C D A B x 2 minus x 1
ln 1 minus y A 2 by 1 minus y A 1.

For an ideal gas we can write concentration would be equal to total pressure Pt divided
by RT R is the universal gas constant and T is any temperature. For mixture of ideal
gases the mole fractions y A in the gas phase can be expressed as the partial pressure of
that component divided by the total pressure. The equation d can be expressed in terms
of the partial pressures as follows; N A would be equal to D A B Pt divided by x 2 minus
x 1 RT ln Pt minus P A 2 divide by Pt minus P A 1. Where Pt is the total pressure P A 1
and P A 2 are the partial pressures of A at point 1 and 2 respectively.

(Refer Slide Time: 10:41)

For diffusion under turbulent conditions the flux is usually calculated based on linear
driving force for this purpose the equation e can be manipulated to rewrite in terms of a
linear driving force. Since for binary gas mixture of total pressure Pt we can write Pt is
equal to P A plus P B. P A and P B are the partial pressure of component A and
component B. So, that we can write Pt minus P A 2 would be equal to P B 2 and Pt minus
P A 1 would be equal to P B 1.

Hence, we can write P A 1 minus P A 2 would be equal to P B 2 minus P A 1. Then the

equation e can be written as N A would be equal to D A B Pt divided by RT x 2 minus x
1 in to P A 1 minus P A 2 divided by P B 2 minus P B 1 into ln P B 2 by P B 1. So, we
can rearrange this relation as N A would be equal to D A B Pt by RT x 2 minus x 1 P B
LM into P A 1 minus P A 2.

(Refer Slide Time: 12:21)

In this relation P B LM is the logarithmic mean of partial pressure of species B which is

defined as P B LM is equal to P B 2 minus P B 1 divided by ln P B 2 by P B 1. The
component A diffuses by concentration gradients the gradient is minus d y A d x. Here
flux is inversely proportional to the distance through which the diffusion occurs and the
concentration of the stagnant gas that is in terms of the logarithmic mean of partial
pressures of species B. Because with increase in x and P B LM resistance increases and
flux decreases.
(Refer Slide Time: 13:23)

This change of concentration or the partial pressure can be expressed in terms of the
simple profiles which is shown over here y axis p A or p B in terms of say atmosphere
and x axis is the distance may be represented by z. So, which varies from 0 0.2 0.4 0.6
0.8 and 1.0 and this partial pressure can vary from.

So, this is the variation of concentration of p A 2 to p A 1 and the concentration variation

of p B can be expressed p B 1. So, Pt is the total pressure which is equal to partial
pressure of A plus partial pressure of B this is the variation of p A and this is the variation
of partial pressure of component B. So, A is diffusing through this directions. So, this is
the partial pressure distribution of A in non diffusing B.
(Refer Slide Time: 16:17)

Now, let us take an example carbon dioxide is diffusing through non diffusing air under
steady state conditions at a total pressure of one atmosphere and temperature of 300
Kelvin. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 20 kilo Pascal at one point and 5 kilo
Pascal at other point the distance between the points is 5 centimeter. We need to calculate
the flux of carbon dioxide given that at 300 Kelvin at and at 1 atmosphere pressure the
diffusion coefficient of carbon dioxide in air is equal to 2 into 10 to the power minus 5
meter square per second.

Now, let us solve this we assume that it is ideal gas let air B the component B. So, we
can write N CO 2 would be equal to D CO 2 air divided by RT in into x 2 minus x 1 into
Pt by P B L M into partial pressure of CO 2 at 1 and partial pressure minus partial
pressure of CO 2 at 2. So, this is D CO 2 air is given 2 into 10 to the power minus 5
meter square per second at 300 Kelvin and 1 atmosphere pressure so that these data is
given.

Now, P is the total pressure which is 1 atmosphere and if we just convert into kilo Pascal
it would be 101.3 kilo Pascal which is equal to 1.01 into 10 to the power 5 Pascal. Now
temperature is 300 Kelvin which is given x 2 minus x 1 the distance of diffusion is 5
centimeter. If we convert to meter it would be point 0.5 0.05 meter and then partial
pressure of carbon dioxide at 0.1 is given 20 kilo Pascal which is 20000 Pascal partial
pressure of carbon dioxide at 0.2 is 5 kilo Pascal which is 5000 Pascal and R is given as
8314 Pascal meter cube per kilo mole Kelvin.

So, P B 1 would be equal to Pt minus P carbon dioxide at point 1 which would be equal
to 101.3 minus 20 kilo Pascal which is around 81.3 kilo Pascal. And P B 2 you can
calculate Pt minus P CO 2 at point 2 which is equal to 101.3 minus 5 kilo Pascal which is
96.3 kilo Pascal.

(Refer Slide Time: 19:41)

So, this P B 1 and P B 2 are calculated, now if we calculate P B L M log mean partial
pressure difference P B 2 minus P B 1 divided by ln P B 2 by P B 1 it would be equal to
96.3 minus 81.3 divided by ln to 96.3 divided by l81.3 kilo Pascal which is 88.59 kilo
Pascal and which is equal to 88590 Pascal.

Now, we can calculate the flux NCO 2 would be equal to 2 into 10 to the power 5 meter
square per second into 1.013 into 10 to the power 5 Pascal divided by 8314 Pascal meter
cube per kilo mole Kelvin into 300 Kelvin is the temperature. And then distance is point
not 5 meter into 88590 Pascal and the pressure differential is 20000 minus 5000 Pascal.
So, it will lead to 2.75 into 10 to the power minus 6 kilo mole per meter square second.
(Refer Slide Time: 21:17)

Now, steady state equimolar counter diffusion this is the case for the diffusion of two
ideal gases where an equal number of moles of the gases diffusing counter currently to
each other. In this case N B would be equal to minus N A which is equal to constant. And
so from this we can write N A plus N B is equal to 0. Now the molar flux in equation a at
steady state can be written as this is equation 1 N A is equal to minus C D A B d y d x
plus y A N and N A plus N B is equal to N which is 0. So, if we substitute that N is 0 we
will get N A is equal to minus C D A B d y A d x.

(Refer Slide Time: 22:25)

Now, for ideal gas the concentration is equal to total pressure Pt divided by RT where R
is the universal gas constant and T is the temperature. So, we can write N A would be
equal to minus d A B P t by RT into d y A d x. Now if we integrate this relation with the
boundary conditions at x would be equal to x 1 and y A would be equal to y A 1 and x is
equal to x 2 y A would be equal to y A 2.

The equation of molar diffusion for steady state equimolar counter diffusion can be
represented as N A would be equal to D A B Pt by RT x 2 minus x 1 y A 1 minus y A 2.
So, from here if we rearrange it would be D A B by RT x 2 minus x 1 into partial
pressure of P A 1 minus partial pressure of component 2 at point 2 is P A 2.

(Refer Slide Time: 23:49)

Now, let us consider another examples carbon dioxide is diffusing at steady state through
a straight tube of 0.5 meter long with an inside diameter of point not 5 meter containing
nitrogen at 300 Kelvin and 1 atmosphere pressure. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide
at one end is 15 kilo Pascal and 5 kilo Pascal at the other end given that at 300 Kelvin
and one atmosphere pressure the diffusion coefficient is 4 into 10 to the power minus 5
meter square per second. Now, we need to calculate the following for the steady state
equimolar counter diffusion the molar flow rate of carbon dioxide and the molar flow
rate of nitrogen and we need to see whether they are equal or not.
(Refer Slide Time: 24:53)

So, we assume the ideal gas in equimolar counter diffusion for CO2. So, the flux for CO
2 we can write N CO 2 would be equal to D CO 2 N 2 divided by RT x 2 minus x 1 P CO
2 at 1 minus D CO 2 at 2. So, the value which are given DCO 2 N 2 would be equal to 4
into 10 to the power minus 5 meter square per second. Pt is the total pressure 1
atmosphere which is equal to 101.3 kilo Pascal which is equal to 1013 into 10 to the
power 5 Pascal.

T is the temperature is 300 Kelvin and x 2 minus x 1 is the distance of diffusion which is
0.5 meter partial pressure of CO 2 at one is 15 kilo Pascal which is 15000 Pascal and
partial pressure of CO 2 at 0.2 is 5 kilo Pascal which is 5000 Pascal R is known 8314
Pascal meter cube per kilo mole Kelvin.
(Refer Slide Time: 26:15)

So, N CO 2 if we substitute this parameters we will get 4 into 10 to the power minus 5
divided by 8314 into 300 into 0.5 into the partial pressure difference 15000 minus 5000.
So, it will lead to 3.21 into 10 to the power minus 7 kilo mole per meter square second.

Now, the molar flow rate of carbon dioxide is equal to NCO 2 into the area A is the cross
sectional area of the tube. So, given that internal diameter of the tube is D i which is 0.05
meter. So, cross sectional area of the tube A is equal to pi D i square by 4 which is equal
to pi by 4 into 0.05 square which is equal to 1.96 into 10 to the power minus 3 meter
square.

Now molar flow rate of carbon dioxide we can calculate which is equal to 3.21 into 10 to
the power minus 7 kilo mole per meter square second which we have calculated flux into
the cross sectional area 1.96 into 10 to the power minus 3 meter square which will give
6.29 into 10 to the power minus 10 kilo mole per second.
(Refer Slide Time: 27:49)

Now, let us calculate for nitrogen using the similar equations it is CO 2 N 2 by RT x 2

minus x 1 into the partial pressure of N 2 at 1 minus partial pressure of N 2 at 0.2. So, the
data for P N 2 1 is P t minus P CO 2 at 1 which is equal to 101.3 minus 15 kilo Pascal.
So, which is around 83.3 kilo Pascal so which is 86300 Pascal P N 2 at 2 is equal to Pt
minus P CO 2 at 2 which is equal to 101.3 minus 5 kilo Pascal which is equal to 96.3 kilo
Pascal which is equal to 96300 Pascal.

So, P N 2 at 1 and P N 2 at 2 is known now we know that for equimolar counter diffusion
the diffusion coefficient of D CO 2 n 2 would be equal to DN 2 CO 2. Now if we
substitute that we will obtain the flux is 3 minus 3.21 into 10 to the power minus 7 kilo
mole per meter square second. So, the molar flow rate we can calculate using similar
way minus 321 into 10 to the power minus 7 kilo mole per meter square second into 1.96
into 10 to the power minus 3 meter square which would be equal to minus 6.29 into 10 to
the power minus 10 kilo mole per meter square second. So, this proves that the mutual
diffusivities for the flux for both the components for equimolar counter diffusions are
same.
(Refer Slide Time: 29:57)

For non equimolar counter diffusion in many situation A and B molecules diffuse in
opposite directions at different molar velocities like let us consider the following
reactions. We can consider 2 A plus B is equal to 2 C. So, in this case when one mole of
B diffuses towards A and two moles of A diffuse in opposite direction we can write N A
is equal to minus N B by 2. So, from these we can calculate the flux of different
components using this relations. So, thank you for hearing this lectures and in the next
lecture we will discuss on the diffusion mass transfer for non uniform geometries.

Thank you very much.