SeparationProcessPrinciples-3.pptVIP

Chapter 3 Mass transfer and diffusion Mass transfer is the net movement of a component in a mixture from one location to another location where the component exists at a different concentration. Often, the transfer takes place between two phases across an interface. Thus, the absorption by a liquid of a solute from a gas involves mass transfer of the solute through the gas to the gas-liquid interface, across the interface, and into the liquid. Mass transfer models are used to describe processes such as the passage of a species through a gas to the outer surface of a porous adsorbent particle and into the pores of the adsorbent, where the species is adsorbed on the porous surface. Mass transfer is also the selective permeation through a nonporous polymeric material of a component of a gas mixture. Mass transfer is not the flow of a fluid through a pipe. However, mass transfer might be superimposed on that flow. Mass transfer is not the flow of solids on a conveyor belt. Mass transfer occurs by two basic mechanisms: Molecular diffusion by random and spontaneous microscopic movement of individual molecules in a gas, liquid, or solid as a result of thermal motion; Eddy turbulent diffusion by random macroscopic fluid motion. * Molecular and/or eddy diffusion frequently involves the movement of different species in opposing directions. When a net flow occurs in one of these directions, the total rate of mass transfer of individual species is increased or decreased by this bulk flow or convection effect, which is a third mechanism of mass transfer. As will be shown later, molecular diffusion is extremely slow, whereas eddy diffusion, when it occurs, is orders of magnitude more rapid. Therefore, if large-scale separation processes are to be conducted in equipment of a reasonable size, fluids must be agitated, interfacial areas maximized, and distances in the direction of diffusion minimized.. In a binary mixture, molecular diffusion occurs because of one or more dif