MyLe Du Mass Transfer Subject – EN2015 – K2017

Chapter 6: Mass Transfer

Exercise #1
The molar composition of a gas mixture at 273 K and 1.5 * 10 5 Pa is:

O2 7%
CO 10%
CO 2 15%
N2 68%

Determine:

(a) The composition in weight percent,

(b) Average molecular weight of the gas mixture,
(c) Density of gas mixture,
(d) Partial pressure of O2.

Exercise #2
Determine the diffusivity of CO2 (1), O2 (2) and N2 (3) in a gas mixture having the
composition:

CO2: 28.5 %, O2: 15%, N2: 56.5%,

The gas mixture is at 273 k and 1.2*105Pa. The binary diffusivity values are given as:
(at 273oK)

D 12 P = 1.874 m 2 Pa/sec
D 13 P = 1.945 m 2 Pa/sec
D 23 P = 1.834 m 2 Pa/sec

Exercise #3
Oxygen is diffusing in a mixture of oxygen-nitrogen at 1 std atm, 25°C. Concentration
of oxygen at planes 2mm apart are 10 and 20 volume % respectively. Nitrogen is non-
diffusing.

(a) Derive the appropriate expression to calculate the flux oxygen. Define units of
each term clearly.
(b) Calculate the flux of oxygen.
Diffusivity of oxygen in nitrogen = 1.89*10–5 m2/sec.

Exercise #4
A vertical glass tube 3mm in diameter is filled with liquid toluene to a depth of 20mm
from the top open-end. After 275hrs at 39.4°C and a total pressure of 760mmHg the
level has dropped to 80mm from the top. Calculate the value of diffusivity.

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MyLe Du Mass Transfer Subject – EN2015 – K2017

Data:
Vapor pressure of toluene at 39.4°C = 7.64kN/m2,
Density of liquid toluene = 850kg/m3
Molecular weight of toluene = 92 (C6H6CH3)

Exercise #5

Methane diffuses at steady state through a tube containing helium. At point 1 the
partial pressure of methane is p A1=55kPa and at point 2, 0.03m apart P A2 = 15KPa.
The total pressure is 101.32kPa, and the temperature is 298oK. At this pressure and
temperature, the value of diffusivity is 6.75*10–5m 2/sec.

i) Calculate the flux of CH 4 at steady state for equimolar counter diffusion.

ii) Calculate the partial pressure at a point 0.02 m apart from point 1.

Exercise #6

In a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, steady state equimolar counter diffusion is
occurring at a total pressure of 100 kPa and temperature of 20°C. If the partial
pressures of oxygen at two planes 0.01m apart, and perpendicular to the direction of
diffusion are 15kPa and 5kPa, respectively and the mass diffusion flux of oxygen in
the mixture is 1.6*10–5kmol/m 2.sec, calculate the molecular diffusivity for the system.

Exercise #7

A tube 1cm in inside diameter that is 20cm long is filled with Co2 and H2 at a total
pressure of 2atm at 0°C. The diffusion coefficient of the Co2 – H2 system under these
conditions is 0.275cm2/sec. If the partial pressure of Co2 is 1.5atm at one end of the
tube and 0.5atm at the other end, find the rate of diffusion for:

i) Steady state equimolar counter diffusion (N A = - N B),

ii) Steady state counter diffusion where N B = - 0.75 N A, and
iii) Steady state diffusion of Co2 through stagnant H2 (NB = 0).

Exercise #8

A sphere of naphthalene having a radius of 2mm is suspended in a large volume of

shell air at 318oK and 1atm. The surface pressure of the naphthalene can be assumed
to be at 318oK is 0.555mmHg.
The DAB of naphthalene in air at 318oK is 6.92*10-6m2/sec. Calculate the rate of
evaporation of naphthalene from the surface.

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MyLe Du Mass Transfer Subject – EN2015 – K2017

Exercise #9

Calculate the rate of diffusion of butanol at 20°C under unidirectional steady state
conditions through a 0.1 cm thick film of water when the concentrations of butanol at
the opposite sides of the film are, respectively 10% and 4% butanol by weight. The
diffusivity of butanol in water solution is 5.9*10–6cm 2/sec. The densities of 10% and
4% butanol solutions at 20°C may be taken as 0.971 and 0.992g/cc respectively.
Molecular weight of Butanol (C 4 H 9 OH) is 74, and that of water 18.