Chapter 1

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO
MASS TRANSFER
Dr. Enshirah Da'na 1

Fundamentals of matter transfer including Molecular diffusion.
Mechanisms of mass transfer in
fluids and solids. The diffusion coefficient and measurement
methods. Diffusion in a turbulent
flow. Mass transfer across interfaces and studying the theories
related to that. Mass transfer
coefficient. The efficiency of the transfer process. The analogy
between momentum, heat and
mass transfer, and related theories. Continuous and stage-wise
separation processes. Applications
to fractional distillation and absorption of gases .

INTRODUCTION
• Some unit operations are carried out in Chemical Engineering
applications do not involve chemical reactions.
• These operations are carried out for separating either a

component by mechanical means like screening, filtration.
• This is called mass transfer operation.
• These mass transfer operations are used for the separation of a
product from the by-products formed and also from the
unreacted raw materials.

CLASSIFICATION OF MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS
Gas–Liquid
Absorption:
• Transfer of a solute from a gas mixture to a solvent is known as
absorption.
(i) removal of ammonia gas from by-product coke ovens using water.
(ii) removal of H2S from naturally occurring hydrocarbon gases by
alkali solutions.
Desorption:
• This is reverse of absorption, i.e. removal of a solute in a solution
using a gas.
• For example, removal of NH3 from NH3-water solution using air.
Humidification:
• Transfer of a liquid to a gas phase containing one or more components
by contacting dry gas with pure liquid is known as humidification.
Dehumidification:
• Transfer of a vapour component from a gas-vapour mixture to a
liquid phase by contacting them is known as dehumidification.
• For example, transferring water vapour from air-water vapour
mixture to liquid water.
Distillation:
• Separating the components in a liquid mixture by the distribution of
substances between a gas and a liquid phase is known as distillation.

• It depends on their relative volatility.
• It applied where all the components are present in both the phases.
• A new phase is created from the original solution itself.
• For example, separation of petroleum fractions by the application of
heat, separation of high boiling water insoluble mixtures using steam.
Liquid–Liquid
Extraction:
• Separation of a component (solute) from a liquid mixture using
another insoluble or partially miscible solvent is known as extraction.
• The separation depends on the distribution of solute between the
two phases based on its physico-chemical characteristics.
• The two phases are solvent rich phase (extract) and residual liquid
phase (raffinate).
(i) separation of acetic acid from acetic acid-water mixture using
isopropyl ether as solvent.
(ii) separation of dioxane from water dioxane solution using benzene
as solvent.
Solid–Liquid/Gas
Leaching:
• Separating a soluble solute from a solid mixture by contacting it
with a solvent is known as leaching.

(i) Separation of oil from oil seeds using hexane.
(ii) Separation of sugar from sugar beets using hot water.
(iii) Removal of copper from its ore using sulphuric acid.
Adsorption:
• Adsorption involves contact of solid with either a liquid or a
gaseous mixture in which a specific substance from the mixture
concentrates on the solid surface.
(i) Removal of colour from solutions using activated carbon.
(ii) Removal of moisture from air by silica gel.

Desorption:
• It is the reverse of adsorption operation.
Drying:
Drying refers to the removal of moisture from a substance.
(i) Removal of water from a cloth, wood or paper.
(ii) Removal of water from solution (manufacture of spray dried milk).
Crystallization:
• The process of forming solid particles within a homogeneous phase
is called crystallization.
(i) The homogenous phase could be a vapour as in the formation of
snow.
(ii) The formation of crystals of sugar from a concentrated sugar
solution. Dr. Enshirah Da'na 9

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• These operations are carried out for separating either a

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