Formulae and General Data

• Atomic weights: H = 1, C = 12, N = 14, O = 16, S = 32, Cl = 35.5

• Gas constant: R = 8.312 J/mol.K
• Pressure: 101, 324 Pa ≡ 1 atm ≡ 760 mm Hg
• Acceleration due to gravity: g = 9.81 m/s2
• Properties of water (unless otherwise stated): ρ = 1000 kg/m3 , µ = 1.00 mPa.s

Stagewise contacting of totally immiscible phases

V1 Vn VN +1
yA1 yAn yAN +1
1 .... n .... N
L0 Ln LN
xA0 xAn xAN
The subscript (A) is often omitted on the composition variables when no confusion is possible.
Equilibrium General: yAn = f (xAn )
Gas-liquid (Henry’s Law): pA = HxA yA = H � x A
Liquid - liquid (Nernst): yA = mxA
Composition/flow variables - definitions:
XA = xA /xB L� = LxB V � = V yB B ≡ inert componenet
For binary mixtures - xA + xB = 1
Operating line:
� � � �
Ln V1 yA1 − L0 xA0
yAn+1 = xAn +
Vn+1 VN +1
� � � � �� � � � � � �� �
yAn+1 L xAn yA1 L xA0
= + −
1 − yAn+1 V� 1 − xAn 1 − yA1 V� 1 − xA0
� �� � ��
L L
YAn+1 = �
XAn + YA1 − XA0
V V�

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Absorption Factor: A = LAVE /mVAVE

( LAVE and VAVE are geometric mean values)

Transfer from V to L (Absorption):

yAN +1 − yA1 AN +1 − A
= N +1
yAN +1 − mx0 A −1
� �
y +1 −mxA0 � �
log ANyA1 −mxA0 1 − A1 + 1
A
N=
log A
When A = 1
yAN +1 − yA1
N=
yA1 − mxA0

Transfer from L to V (Stripping, Liquid–liquid extraction):

xA0 − xAN (1/A)N +1 − (1/A)

=
xA0 − yAN +1 /m (1/A)N +1 − 1
�� � �
xA0 −yAN +1 /m
log xAN −yAN +1 /m (1 − A) + A
N=
log(1/A)
When A = 1
xA0 − xAN
N=
xAN − yAN +1 /m

Liquid-liquid extraction (partially miscible)

(x, y, z are solute mass/mol fractions)

�
L0 + VN +1 = M = LN + V1
L0 x0 + VN +1 yN +1 = M zM = LN xN + V1 y1
�
L0 − V1 = ∆ = LN − VN + 1 = Ln − Vn+1
L0 x0 − V1 y1 = ∆z∆ = LN xN − VN +1 yN +1 = Ln xn − Vn+1 yn+1

Binary distillation (McCabe Thiele)

(A = M.V.C.) (x, y are M.V.C fractions)

Raoult: pA = xA p◦A pB = xA p◦B

Volatility: kA = y/x kB = (1 − y)/(1 − x)

Relative volatility: α = kA /kB

Equilibrium curve (constant α):

αx
y=
1 + (α − 1)x

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Adiabatic flash:

V
y
F
zF
L
x

F zF = V y + Lx (x, y in equilibrium)

Total
condenser

V1
D
(1) L0 xD
(n)

Vn+1 Ln
F
zF
Lm−1 Vm

(m)

(N )
VN +1

Reboiler
LN
(N + 1)

W
xW

Operating lines:

� � � �
Ln DxD
yn+1 = xn +
Vn+1 VN +1
� � � �
Lm−1 W xW
ym = xm−1 −
Vm Vm

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Constant molar overflow assumption:

Vn+1 = V
Ln = L

Vm = V
Lm−1 = L

Feed stream:
q = moles liquid in stripping section arising from one mole of feed

q-line: � � � �
−q zF
y= x+
1−q 1−q

Reflux ratio:
RD = L0 /D

Murphree Efficiency: � �
yn − yn+1
EM =
yn∗ − yn+1

Molecular Diffusion

Fick’s Law (Equimolar counter diffusion) - binary:

General:
dcA
JA∗ = −DAB
dz
Ideal gas:
�p � dy
Tot A
JA∗ = −DAB
RT dz

Stationary component (gas):

NA = JA∗ + yA (NA + NB )
� p � � ∆y � � 1
�
Tot A
= −DAB
RT ∆z yB LogMean

Diffusion in solids
dcA
NA ≈ JA∗ = −DAB
dz
Gases through solid films:
−DAB SAB dpA
NA ≈ ·
0.0224 dz
−PAB dpA
= ·
0.0224 dz

SAB = Solubility of A in B (m3 A at STP)/(m3 solid)

PAB = “Permeability” of A in B

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Gases in granular beds:
dcA
NA� = −Deff ·
dz

NA� = Flux based on superficial conditions

�
Deff = DAB
τ

Effect of temperature and pressure on DAB :

Gases
T 1.75
DAB ∝
pTot

Liquids (dilute):
T
DAB ∝
µ

Knudsen diffusion (SI Units):

λ
Kn =
d �
3.2µ RT
λ =
pTot 2πMA

Flux:
−DKA dpA
NA = ·
RT � dz
T
DKA = 47.5d
MA

Film Mass Transfer Coefficients

Gas film (bulk −→ interface) - equimolar counter transfer:

�
NA = k C (cA − cAi ) = ky� (yA − yAi ) = kG
�
(pA − pAi )

Stationary component:
�
kC = kC /yB LogMean

Liquid film (interface −→ bulk) - equimolar counter transfer:

�
NA = k C (cAi − cA ) = kx� (xAi − xA )

Stationary component
�
kC ≈ kC /xB Logmean

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Dimensionless groups:

� l
Sherwood : Sh = kC
D
lvρ
Reynolds : Re =
µ
µ
Schmidt : Sc =
ρD
Sh
Stanton : St =
ReSc
Sh
jD (≡ jM ) =
ReSc 1/3
l = characteristic linear dimension

Transfer between immiscible phases

(Gas −→ liquid)

NA = KC� (cA − c∗A ) = Ky� (yA − yA

∗ �
) = KG (pA − p∗A ) (Gas)
= KC� (c∗A − cA ) = Kx� (x∗A − xA ) (Liquid)

where
∗
yA = H � xA p∗A = HxA (Gas)
∗
yA = H� x∗A = H�� c∗A (Liquid)

Interface:

yAi = H� xAi = H�� cAi

pAi = HxAi

Overall coefficients:
1 1 H�
= +
Ky� ky� kx�
1 1 1
= + �
Kx� �
H ky � kx
� , K� , K�
Analogous equations for KG L C

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Gas Absorption (Stripping) - Continuous Contact Process

V � V2 L2 L�
Y 2 y2 x 2 X2

(2) a = interfacial area per

z2 unit volume of
packed tower
Z = packed
bed height S = tower cross-
sectional area
z1 (1)

V � V1 L1 L�
Y 1 y1 x 1 X1
General:

� y2 � x2
V (−dy) L (−dx)
Z= · = ·
y1 N aS (1 − y) x1 N aS (1 − x)

Manipulation of the above:

� y2 � y2
V (−dy) V (1 − y)∗LM (−dy)
Z= · ∗
= �
·
y1 Ky aS (1 − y)(y − y ) y1 Ky aS (1 − y) (y − y ∗ )

Dilute solutions:

(1 − y)∗LM
≈ 1.0
(1 − y)
� �� y2
Vave (−dy)
Z≈
Ky� aS y1 (y − y ∗ )

Additionally - Henry’s Law holds

� � � �
Vave (y2 − y1 )
Z = (−1)
Ky� aS (y − y ∗ ) Log Mean 1→2
≡ Hoy Noy

Analogous equations for gas film basis, and for liquid-phase balances.

Z = Hy Ny = HG NG = Hoy Noy = HoG NoG

= Hx Nx = HL NL = Hox Nox = HoL NoL

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