Lukhdhirji Engineering College-Morbi

Chemical Engineering Department

Mass Transfer Operation - II
(3160501) Sem: 6th
Faculty: (Prof.) D.K.Mehta

CHAPTER 1: DISTILLATION

1. Explain constant pressure equilibria with neat sketch.

2. Explain relative volatility and its relationship with vapor pressure.
OR
Show that the relative volatility of an ideal binary system is equal to the ratio of
vapor pressure of two components.
3. With reference to Raoult’s law, explain characteristics of ideal solutions.
4. Discuss positive deviations from ideality with neat sketch.
5. Discuss applications of steam distillation.
6. Write a note on flash distillation.
7. Discuss importance of vacuum distillation.
8. Derive Rayleigh’s equation for simple distillation.
9. List assumptions of McCabe-Thiele method and its limitations.
10. Define reflux ratio. Explain total and minimum reflux. How reflux ratio affects
the number of stages.
11. Explain separation in Enriching and Stripping section of continuous
rectification column.
12. What is constant molal overflow? Outline the McCabe-Thiele design method
for obtaining number of theoretical trays by graphical method clearly
mentioning its assumptions.
13. Derive q-line equation for feed tray location.
14. Draw the location of q line for various thermal condition of feed.
15. What is an azeotrope? Explain the advantage, disadvantages and industrial
applications of azeotropic distillation with suitable example.
16. Explain Extractive distillation by citing proper example. Also write
requirements of solvent to be used in distillation.
17. Derive Fenske’s equation for the minimum number of theoretical stages.
18. Name the most commonly used reboiler in the distillation column.
19. In binary distillation column, if feed contain 40 mole% vapor, calculate the
slope of feed line. (Show calculations)
20. When feed to the distillation column is saturate liquid; what is the slope
of feed line?
26. Define reflux ratio and how does it helps in improving the purity of the
top product in rectification section.
27. Discuss in detail steam distillation and compare it with vacuum
distillation.
28. Draw schematic diagram of conventional fractionating column and explain
how mass transfer takes place between two phases in the column.

29. Compute the vapor-liquid equilibria at constant pressure of 1 standard

atmosphere for mixtures of n-heptane (A) with n-octane (B), which
may be expected to form ideal solutions. Also calculate the relative
volatility for each temperature and its average value.
T (°C) 98.4 105 110 115 120 125.6
pA,mm Hg 760 940 1050 1200 1350 1540
pB,mm Hg 333 417 484 561 650 760

30. Compute the equilibrium data from following data at 760 mm Hg pressure and
relative volatility.

31. A continuous distillation column is to separate 50 Kmol/hr of feed mixture

having 65% Benzene (A) and 35% Toluene (B). Top product contains 95%
Benzene and Bottom product contains 95% Toluene (by mole).Feed is
saturated liquid at its bubble point. Average relative volatility is 2.44. If reflux
ratio R=2.25 Rmin, determine feed tray location and number of theoretical
stages by Mccabe-Thiele method.
 32. 100 kmol of liquid mixture containing 50 mole% n-heptane (more volatile)
and 50 mole% n-octane at 30oC is to be subjected to a differential
distillation at atmospheric pressure with 60 mole% of liquid distilled.
Compute the composition of the composited distillate and the residue using
Rayleigh equation. Use equilibrium data for n-heptane and n-octane (in
mole fractions of n-heptane in vapour and liquid) is given below.
X 0.5 0.46 0.42 0.38 0.34 0.32
Y 0.689 0.648 0.608 0.567 0.523 0.497

33. Afractionation column has been installed to distillate 5000 kg/hr of a

mixture of 50 % methanol & 50% water (by weight). The overhead and
bottom products are found to contain 95 % methanol and 1 % methanol
respectively. Carry out material balances.
Mol. wt. of methanol: 32 and Mol. wt. of water: 18.

34. Amixture of 45 mol% Benzene and remaining Toluene is continuously

fractioned in a tower. Feed is liquid at its boiling point and is introduced at 5
kmol/s rate. This gives 98 % benzene in distillate and 98 % toluene in bottoms.
Find amount of Distillate and Bottoms. Find minimum reflux ratio and number
of plates when total reflux is used. Equilibrium data in mole fraction is given
as:
X 1 0.78 0.58 0.41 0.26 0.13 0.017
Y 1 0.9 0.78 0.63 0.49 0.26 0.039

35. A feed of 70 mole % hexane and 30 mole % octane is fed to a pipe still through
a pressure reducing valve into a flash disengaging chamber. The vapour and
liquid leaving the chamber are assumed to be in equilibrium. If 50 mole % of
feed is vaporized, find the composition of the top and bottom products.
Equilibrium data are given below:

x, mole fraction of 1 0.69 0.40 0.192 0.045 0

hexane in liquid
y, mole fraction of 1 0.932 0.78 0.538 0.1775 0
hexane in vapor

36. A batch distillation operation is carried out to separate a feed containing 150
moles of a binary mixture of A and B. The mole fraction of A in the feed is 0.8. The
distillation progresses until the mole fraction of A in the residue decreases to 0.6.
The equilibrium curve in this composition range may be linearized to y* = 0.7353x
+ 0.3088. Here x and y are the mole fractions of the more volatile component A in
the liquid and vapor phases respectively. Calculate the number of moles of residue.
37. A continuous distillation column is to be designed for separating 10,000 kg/hr of
a liquid mixture containing 60 mole% water and remaining Methanol into an
overhead product containing 3 mole% water and bottom product having 2%
methanol. A mole reflux ratio of 3 is used. Calculate number of ideal plates.
Consider feed is at its bubble point. Equilibrium data :

38. A liquid mixture containing 40 mole% methanol and 60 mole% water is fed to
the differential distillation at atmospheric pressure with 60 mole% of the liquid is
distilled. Find the composited distillate and the residue. Equillibrium Data:

39. A mixture of benzene and toluene containing 60 mole% of benzene is to be

separated to give a product of 95 mole% benzene and bottom product containing 10
mole% of benzene. The feed enters a column at its bubble point. It is proposed to
operate the column with reflux ratio of 2.5. Calculate number of theoretical plates
needed by Mccabe-Thiele method and position of feed plate. The vapor liquid
equilibrium data are given as below:

40. A liquid mixture containing 60 mole% acetone (1), 40 mole% water (2) at 1 atm
pressure in differentially distilled to vaporize 30 mole% of the feed. Compute the
composition of composite distillate and residue. The VLE data are:
 Lukhdhirji Engineering College-Morbi
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer Operation - II
(3160501) Sem: 6th
Faculty: (Prof.) D.K.Mehta

CHAPTER 2: HUMIDIFICATION
OPERATION

1. Define: (a) Molal Absolute humidity (b) Grosvenor Humidity (c) Dry bulb
Temperature (d) wet bulb temperature (e) Dew point (f) Relative saturation
(g) Percentage saturation (h) Humid volume (i) Humid heat (j) psychrometric
ratio (k) Lewis relation (l) Enthalpy (m) wet bulb temperature approach
2. Derive equation for Adiabatic Saturation Curve.
3. Explain with schematic diagram the concept of wet bulb temperature
and derive the relation for wet bulb depression.
4. Describe spray chambers shortly.
5. Give detailed classification of cooling towers and discuss about any one
in detail with neat sketch.
6. Compare forced draft and induced draft cooling tower.
7. Explain the various types of cooling towers and discuss their selection
criteria.
8. Explain following terms with reference to cooling tower : (1) Range (2)
Approach (3) Blow down

9. Explain various losses in cooling towers and explain why make water is
required in cooling towers.

10. Explain mechanism of cooling in upper part and lower part of a cooling
tower operating counter currently.
11. A gas (B)–benzene (A) mixture is saturated at 1 std atm, 50̊ C. Calculate
the absolute humidity if B is (a) nitrogen and (b) carbon dioxide. Vapor
pressure of nitrogen at 50°C is given as 0.362 std atm.

12. In a mixture of benzene (A) vapor and nitrogen (B) gas at a total
pressure of 800 mmHg and temperature of 60˚ C, the partial pressure of
benzene is 100 mmHg calculate the (i) Mole fraction of benzene, (ii)
Molal absolute humidity and (iii) Absolute humidity.
 Lukhdhirji Engineering College-Morbi
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer Operation - II
(3160501) Sem: 6th
Faculty: (Prof.) D.K.Mehta

CHAPTER 3: ADSORPTION AND

ION EXCHANGE

1. Define (i) Adsorption (ii) Adsorbent (iii) Adsorbate (iv)Heat of wetting (v)
Differential heat of adsorption (vi) Integral heat of adsorption.
2. Write short note on application of adsorption.
3. State and discuss the types of adsorption with suitable example.
OR
Compare and contrast physical adsorption and chemisorptions.
4. Explain nature of adsorbents.
OR
Write short note on adsorbents with their characteristics. Also state few
industrial applications of adsorption.
5. Explain adsorption isotherm with figure.
6. Explain Adsorption hysteresis.
7. Qualitatively, explain the apparent adsorption of solute from
concentrated solution.
OR
Explain adsorption from concentrated solutions.

8. Explain adsorption of solute from dilute solutions.

9. Derive the equation for the rate of adsorption in a fixed bed and explain the
concept of degree of saturation.
10. Write material balance for a single stage adsorption and apply Freundlich
equation in it.
11. Write brief note on Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).
12. Describe adsorption wave briefly.
13. What do you mean by Ion Exchange? Describe techniques and application of
ion exchange and list out the factors on which rate of ion exchange is
dependent.
 14. Explain effect of temperature on adsorption with one example.

15. Write a short note on ion exchange covering its principles, equilibria and
applications.
OR
What do you mean by Ion Exchange? Describe techniques and application of
ion exchange and list out the factors on which rate of ion exchange is
dependent.

16. Name the various industrial processes for adsorption of vapors and explain
any two in detail.
17. Write material balance for a single stage adsorption and apply Freundlich
equation in it.
18. Explain cross current adsorption.
19. Write Freundlich equation. How is it applied to two-stage cross current
adsorption?
20.

21. For a cross-current two stage adsorption process, derive the expression given
below:

Where Y0, Y1 and Y2 represents initial, intermediate and final concentrations terms
for an adsorption operation and ‘n’ is a constant of Freundlich equation.
 Lukhdhirji Engineering College-Morbi
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer Operation - II
(3160501) Sem: 6th
Faculty: (Prof.) D.K.Mehta

CHAPTER 4: DRYING

1. Explain the following terms:

i) Bound moisture ii) Free moisture
iii) Equilibrium moisture iv) Critical moisture
(v) Moisture content on wet basis, (vi) moisture content on dry basis
2. Write a note on drying at low temperature.
3. Explain rate of drying curve with neat diagram.
4. Discuss about the factors which affects the drying. How is drying different
than evaporation?

5. Derive equation for time required in constant and falling rate drying.
OR
Derive the relation to determine the time needed for constant & falling rate
period of the batch drying operations.

6. Explain liquid diffusion within the solid.

7. What is critical moisture content? Derive the equations for time of drying for
(i) Initial and final moisture content greater than critical moisture content (ii)
Initial and final moisture content less than critical moisture content (iii) Initial
moisture content greater than critical moisture content and final moisture
content less than critical moisture content.
8. Explain Capillary movement mechanism for movement of moisture within the
solid.
9. Write a short note on sublimation drying.

10. Briefly explain freeze drying.

11. Classify dryers and discuss selection criteria for dryers.
12. Explain the working of various indirect type rotary dryers.
13. Classify rotary dryer and explain any one shortly.
14. Explain construction, working, advantages & disadvantages of tray
dryer.
15. Write applications, construction and working of rotary drier.
16. With neat sketch, explain drum dryer.
17. Explain the working of a spray dryer with a figure. Also, discuss the benefits
of spray drying.
18. Explain principle and working of fluidized bed drier with neat sketch.

19. A commercial dryer requires 6 hr to dry the moist material from 32 % to 8 %

moisture on wet basis. The critical moisture content is 16 % (wet) and equilibrium
moisture content is 0.05 kg moisture/kg dry solid. How much excess time is
required to dry material from 37 % to 7 %, if the drying conditions remain the same.

20. A porous solid is dried in a batch dryer under constant drying conditions. Eight
hours are required to reduce the moisture content from 40 % to 10 %. The critical
moisture content was found to be 20 % and equilibrium moisture content 4 %. All
moisture content is on dry basis. Assuming that the rate of drying falling rate period
is proportional to free moisture content, how long should it take to dry a sample of
the same solid from 40 % to 5 % under the same drying conditions.

21. A batch of solid for which the material is dried from 25 to 6% moisture has the
initial weight of solid to be 160 kg. The drying surface is 1 m2/40 kg dry
weight. Determine the time of drying for constant rate period and falling rate
period using graphical method. The data are as follows:

X 0.35 0.25 0.20 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10

N 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.266 0.239 0.208 0.180 0.150
Where X= kg moisture / kg dry solid
N= rate of drying x 103, kg evaporated /m2-sec.
22. A batch of solid for which the material is dried from 25 to 9% moisture has
the initial weight of solid to be 160 kg. The drying surface is 1 m2/40 kg dry
weight. Determine the time of drying for constant rate period and falling rate
period using graphical method. The data are as follows:
X 0.25 0.2 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.1 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.06
N 0.3 0.3 0.266 0.239 0.208 0.18 0.15 0.097 0.07 0.043 0.025
Where X= kg moisture / kg dry solid
N= rate of drying x 103, kg evaporated /m2-sec.
23. 3000 kg dry mass of non-porous solid is dried under constant drying
conditions. The area of drying surface is 60 m2. How long it will take to dry a
material from 0.15 to 0.025 kg water/ kg of dry solids? The equilibrium moisture
content is assumed to be zero. The critical moisture content is 0.125 kg water/kg
of dry solids. If the initial rate of drying is 3 x 10-4 kg/m2s, assume that the
falling rate is linear.
24. Slabs of paper pulp 100 cm x 100 cm x 1.5 cm are to be dried under constant
drying conditions from 67% to 30% moisture. The value of equilibrium moisture
for the material is 0.5%. If the critical moisture content is 60% and the rate of
drying at the critical point is 1.5 kg/(m2 /h), Calculate the drying time. The dry
weight of each slab is 2.5 kg. All the moisture contents are on wet basis. The
falling rate may be assumed to be linear. Consider drying from the two big faces.
25. A 100 kg batch of granular solids containing 30% moisture is to be dried in a
tray dryer to 16% moisture by passing a current of air at 350 K across its
surface at a velocity of 1.8 m/s. If the constant drying rate under these
conditions is 0.7×10–3 kg/m2.s, if the critical moisture content is 15%,
calculate the drying time. Given that the surface area available for drying is
0.03 2 /kg dry solid.
26. A 100 kg batch of granular solid containing 30% moisture is to be dried in a
tray dryer to 16% moisture by passing a current of air at 350 K across its
surface at a velocity of 1.8 m/s. If the constant rate of drying under these
conditions is 0.7 x 10-3 kg/m2s and the critical moisture content is 15%.
Calculate the drying time.

27 A 50 kg batch of granular solid containing 25% moisture is to be dried in a

tray dryer to 12% moisture by passing a current of air at 363 K across its
surface at a velocity of 1.8 m/s. If the constant rate of drying under these
conditions is 0.0008 kg/m2s and the critical moisture content is 10%. Calculate
the drying time. The surface area available for drying is 1.0 m2.