Instructions To Candidates
Instructions To Candidates
Instructions To Candidates
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2019/2020
FOURTH YEAR SEMESTER ONE EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
DATE: TIME:
Instructions to candidates:
1. The paper contains SEVEN questions
2. Answer any FIVE questions.
3. Start each question on afresh page.
4. Do not write anything on the question paper.
QUESTION ONE
(a) Write short notes on the following processes as applied in mass transfer
i. Membrane separation
ii. Distillation
iii. Leaching
iv. Fractional crystallization
v. Gas absorption [3 marks each]
(b) Explain the concept of the two film resistance theory. [5 marks]
QUESTION TWO
(a) Nitrogen gas is diffusing at a constant rate through a layer of stagnant air 1 mm thick.
Conditions are such that the gas contains 50 percent by volume nitrogen at one boundary
of the stagnant layer. The nitrogen diffusing to the other boundary is quickly absorbed
and the concentration is negligible at that plane. The temperature is 295 K and the
pressure atmospheric, and under these conditions the diffusivity of nitrogen in air is 0.2
cm2/s. Estimate the rate of diffusion of nitrogen through the layer. [8
marks]
QUESTION THREE
(a) State the Fick’s law of diffusion and explain the meaning of the symbols [4 marks]
(b) Show that the relationship between the individual phase mass transfer coefficient and the
overall mass transfer coefficients take the form of additional of resistance i.e.
1 1 m'
= + [10 marks]
K y k y kx
(c) Explain any 3 characteristics of packing materials commonly applicable in the packed
towers [6 marks]
QUESTION FOUR
(a) For a system in which component (A) is transferring from the liquid to the gas phase, the
equilibrium is given by 𝐲𝐀∗ = 0.75 𝐱𝐀. At one point in the appartus the liquid contain 90
mol% of (A) and gas contain 45 mol% of (A). The individual gas film mass transfer
coefficient at this point in the appartus of 0.02716 kmol/m 2.s , and 70% of the overall
resistance to mass transfer is known to be encountered in the gas film: determine:
(i) The molar flux of (A). [5 marks]
(ii) The interfacial concentration of (A). [4 marks]
(iii) . The overall mass transfer coefficient for liquid and gas phases. [5 marks]
(b) With a labeled schematic diagram, describe the operation of a tray tower. [6 marks]
QUESTION FIVE
A tube 1cm inside diameter that is 20cm long is filled with CO 2 and H2 at a total pressure of 2
atm at 0oC. The coefficient of diffusion of the CO 2 - H2 system under these conditions is
0.285cm2/s. if the partial pressure of CO 2 is 1.5 atm at one end of the tube and 0.5 atm at the
other end, find the rate of diffusion for:
QUESTION SIX
a) What are the factors that would influence the choice of a solvent for an absorption operation?
[7 marks]
b) What are some of the factors one should put into consideration when designing an absorber
or a stripper? [5
marks]
c) What is Marphree stage efficiency of a mass transfer operation [3 marks]
d) What is the difference between concurrent and counter-current mass transfer operations?
[5 marks]
QUESTION SEVEN
END