CL-352

MASS TRANSFER AND REACTION

ENGINEERING LAB

Solid Gas Mass Transfer

Instructor Name: Prof. Abhinaya Sampath

Name: Saurabh Kumar Sah

Group Members: Yash Patel, Nilansh Sharma, Rohit Raj

Date of Experiment: 04-03-24

 SOLID-GAS MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS

Aim
To determine the mass transfer coefficient for vaporising naphthalene balls in air.

Apparatus

● Naphthalene Balls (10 balls)

● String to attach naphthalene balls.
● Weight measuring device
● Dryer
● Vertical Tube
● Vernier Calipers

Theory

Diffusion-driven mass transfer occurs when a substance's concentration differs between two
regions, prompting the substance to move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower
concentration. In our experiment involving solid naphthalene balls exposed to air, naphthalene
molecules diffuse from the surface of the balls into the air because the concentration of naphthalene
molecules on the surface exceeds that of the surrounding air. This process continues until
equilibrium is reached, wherein the concentration of naphthalene molecules on the surface matches
that in the surrounding air. Factors like the surface area of the naphthalene balls, system temperature
and pressure, and the diffusion coefficient of naphthalene in air influence the mass transfer rate
during our experiment.

Fick's Law of Diffusion describes the rate at which a substance diffuses through another medium.
It states that the diffusion rate (flux) is directly proportional to the concentration gradient of the
substance and inversely proportional to the distance over which diffusion occurs.
Mathematically, Fick's Law can be expressed as
𝑑𝐶
𝐽 = − 𝐷 𝑑𝑥
Where:
● J represents the diffusion flux (amount of substance diffusing per unit area per unit time),
● D is the diffusion coefficient (a measure of how easily a substance diffuses through a
medium),
● dC/dx is the concentration gradient (the rate at which the concentration of the substance
changes with distance).

The mass transfer coefficient in solid-gas mass transfer refers to the rate at which a substance
transfers from a solid phase to a gas phase per unit area per unit concentration difference. It
represents the mass transfer efficiency between the solid surface and the gas phase. The mass
transfer coefficient is influenced by various factors, such as the properties of the solid material, the
characteristics of the gas phase, and the system's operating conditions.
Mathematically, the mass transfer coefficient k can be expressed using Fick's Law of Diffusion,
𝑁 = 𝑘 * (𝐶𝑠 − 𝐶𝑔)

Where:
● N is the mass transfer rate per unit area (flux),
● 𝐶𝑠 is the concentration of the substance at the solid-gas interface,
● 𝐶𝑔 is the concentration of the substance in the bulk gas phase.

The mass transfer coefficient depends on factors such as the solid's surface area, the substance's
diffusion coefficient, the thickness of the gas boundary layer, and the driving force for mass transfer
(concentration gradient). Determining the mass transfer coefficient is crucial in designing and
optimising solid-gas interaction processes, such as adsorption, catalysis, and drying.

Procedure

The experimental setup comprised a vertical transparent tube above a hot air blower. Naphthalene
balls were strung together on a string, ensuring they were securely placed. This string of balls was
then suspended in the tube, allowing hot air to pass through.

The steps involved were

● Measure the diameter and height of individual naphthalene balls and the total weight of
naphthalene balls.
● Place the naphthalene balls within a cylindrical air column with external air pumping.
● Allow 30 minutes to elapse and re-measure the parameters.
● Repeating the process to obtain the final reading after 60 minutes.

Observations

1. The saturation pressure of Naphthalene = 8.6 Pa

2. The molecular weight of Naphthalene = 128.17 g/mol.

Table 1: Variation in weight, Height and diameter of naphthalene balls.

t = 0 min t = 30 min t = 60 min
weight = 60.143 g weight = 54.34 g weight = 53.31
Obs.
no. Diameter (mm) Height (mm) Diameter (mm) Height (mm) Diameter (mm) Height (mm)
1 21.09 16.62 20.94 16.55 20.55 16.55
2 21.44 17.18 21.26 17.17 20.98 17.02
3 21.39 17.03 21.27 17.01 21.02 16.7
4 21.49 17.36 21.39 16.56 21.11 16.69
5 21.34 18.47 21.24 18.28 21.18 17.91
 6 21.26 17.11 21.11 17.03 21 16.92
7 21.46 19.19 21.19 18.66 21.08 18.14
8 21.4 17.05 21.2 16.6 21.03 15.09
9 21.39 17.53 21.2 17.25 21.44 17.09
10 21.31 16.73 21.01 16 21.04 15.74
Avg: 21.357 17.427 21.181 17.111 21.043 16.785

Table 2: Average Area, Mass transfer coefficient

Time(min) T=0 T=30 T= 60
Avg. area
1884.92327 1842.495245 1804.483912
(mm2)
Mass transfer
- 0.00156207462 0.0002833748526
coefficient

Sample calculation

● Area of one naphthalene ball = 2 * π *

𝑑 𝑑
2 2 (+ ℎ )
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
● Number of moles of naphthalene = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
= 128.17
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝑑𝑛 ∆𝑛
● Change in the number of moles per unit change in time 𝑑𝑡
= ∆𝑡
● Molar flux 𝑁𝐴 =( ) −
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
*
𝑑𝑛
𝑑𝑡
𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴
● Mass transfer coefficient 𝐾𝐺 = 𝑃𝐴
= 8.6 𝑝𝑎

For 1st naphthalene ball at 0 minute

● Area of one naphthalene ball

2* π*
𝑑
2 ( 𝑑
2
+ ℎ ) = 2 * 3. 14 *
21.09
2 ( 21.09
2
+ 16. 62 ) = 1798. 936929 𝑚𝑚
2

● Number of moles of naphthalene

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 60.14
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
= 128.17
= 0. 469𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠

● Change in the number of moles per unit change in time ( )=𝑑𝑛

𝑑𝑡
∆𝑛
∆𝑡
At 0 minutes and 30 minutes

( )=
𝑑𝑛1
𝑑𝑡
∆𝑛
∆𝑡
= ( 0.4692439728−0.4239681673
30*60 ) = 0. 00002515322532 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝑠𝑒𝑐

● Molar flux 𝑁𝐴 =( ) −
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
*
𝑑𝑛
𝑑𝑡
 (𝑁𝐴)
1 𝑑𝑛 1 2
=− 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
* 𝑑𝑡
=− 1884.92327+1842.495245 * (− 0. 00002515322532)𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒/𝑚𝑚 * 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
2

● Mass transfer coefficient

𝑁𝐴 𝑁𝐴 2
𝐾𝐺 = 𝑃𝐴
= 8.6 𝑝𝑎
= 0. 00156207462 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒/𝑚𝑚 * 𝑠𝑒𝑐 * 𝑝𝑎

Graphs

Graph showing variation in mass transfer coefficient as time proceeds during the experiment

Note: To obtain the above graph, I have assumed that the mass transfer coefficient at zero time is zero.
 Graph showing variation in the average area as time proceeds during the experiment

Results
● The average value of the mass transfer coefficient is 0.0009227247365 mole/min-mm2-Pa
● The average area of the naphthalene balls is 1843.967475 mm2

Discussion and conclusion

● After taking the initial reading when we started the experiment, we found that the RPM of
the wind blower was much higher than required. This wind throws all the naphthalene balls
out of the vertical column. This is the reason for approximately 6 g of weight loss.

● The experimental findings indicated a gradual reduction in the weight and dimensions of the
naphthalene balls over time. This observation underscores mass transfer via diffusion,
where substances move from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower
concentration.

● Utilising the experimentally obtained data, we calculated the diffusion coefficient of

naphthalene in air. This coefficient reflects the propensity of naphthalene molecules to
diffuse through the air. Such insights enable predicting mass transfer rates in similar
systems and facilitate the design of industrial processes reliant on diffusion-driven mass
transfer.

● Notably, the experimental parameters, including temperature and pressure, remained

 constant throughout the study. This deliberate control of conditions ensures a focused
examination of the impact of diffusion on the weight variation of the naphthalene balls,
eliminating the influence of extraneous variables.

● The Area vs. Time graph analysis reveals a near-linear trend for the naphthalene balls. This
suggests that the alteration in area is independent of the initial area of the naphthalene balls,
providing additional insights into the diffusion process.

Industrial Application
One industrial application of solid-gas mass transfer is in the pharmaceutical industry for producing
controlled-release drug formulations. In this application, solid-gas mass transfer principles are
utilised to coat pharmaceutical particles with a thin layer of polymer to control the release rate of
the drug. This process involves suspending the drug particles in a fluidised bed reactor and
introducing a polymer solution or dispersion into the reactor. As the polymer solution comes into
contact with the drug particles, mass transfer occurs, leading to the deposition of the polymer onto
the surface of the drug particles. The coated particles are then dried to remove the solvent, forming
a thin polymer film around the drug particles. This coating effectively controls the release of the
drug, allowing for sustained and controlled release over an extended period, which is beneficial for
improving patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes.

References

● Diffusion coefficient of naphthalene in air and hydrogen (acs.org)

● Lab Manual