Mass Transfer: Unit Operation

Unit Operation :-
A unit operation is a basic step in a process. Unit operations involve a physical change or
chemical transformation such as separation, crystallization, evaporation, filtration,
polymerization, isomerization, and other reactions.
Mass Transfer Operation :-A group of unit operations for separating the components of
mixtures is based on the transfer of material from one homogenous phase to another. The driving force
for transfer is a concentration difference or a concentration gradient; much like a temperature difference
or a temperature gradient provides the driving force for heat transfer.
These methods, covered by the term mass-transfer operations, include such techniques as indicated
below:
• Distillation
• Gas absorption
• Dehumidification
• Liquid extraction
• Leaching
• Drying
1)Distillation The purpose of distillation is to separate, by vaporization, a liquid mixture of

miscible and volatile substances into individual components or, in some cases, into groups of
components. The separation of a mixture of alcohol and water into its components; of air into nitrogen,
oxygen, and argon; and of crude petroleum into gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, and lubricating stock are
examples of distillation.
Types of distillation;
Batch Distilation
continuous distillation
Explainatioin:-
Distillation is a water purification process that uses a heat source to vaporize water and
separate it from contaminants and other undesirable elements commonly found in ground and
surface water. Distillation heats raw (untreated) water until the water reaches its boiling point
and begins to vaporize. The heat is then kept at a constant temperature to maintain water
vaporization while prohibiting other undesirable elements from vaporizing. Water has a lower
boiling point than salt and other mineral sediments. This process also separates the water
molecules from microscopic, disease-causing organisms. Once all of the water has vaporized,
the vapor is led into a condenser, where, upon cooling, the water reverts to the liquid form and
runs into a receiving container. The remaining elements, whose boiling point was too high to
permit vaporization, remain in the original container and constitute the sediment (Holland,
Siqueiros, Santoyo, Heard, & Santoyo, 1999). Because the distillation process can never ensure
a complete separation between water and other materials, it is often repeated one or more
times with the treated water. Many alcoholic beverages, like brandy, gin, and whiskey, are
distilled, using an apparatus similar in constitution to the water distillation apparatus.
Application of Distilation :-
1) Oil Refinery industry
2) Water purification industry
3) In obtaining of pyridine (which is use a water proofing industry)
4) Argon in also obtain by distillation
Gas absorption ;-
Gas absorption (also known as scrubbing ) is an operation in which a gas mixture is contacted
with a liquid for the purpose of preferentially dissolving one or more components of the
gas mixture and to provide a solution of them in the liquid.
Therefore we can see that there is a mass transfer of the component of the gas from the gas
phase to the liquid phase. The solute so transferred is said to be absorbed by the liquid.
Types of Absorption:
Physical vs. Chemical Absorption
There are 2 types of absorption processes: physical absorption and chemical absorption,
depending on whether there is any chemical reaction between the solute and the solvent
(absorbent).
When water and hydrocarbon oils are used as absorbents, no significant chemical reactions
occur between the absorbent and the solute, and the process is commonly referred to
as physical absorption.
When aqueous sodium hydroxide (a strong base) is used as the absorbent to dissolve an acid
gas, absorption is accompanied by a rapid and irreversible neutralization reaction in the liquid
phase and the process is referred to as chemical absorption or reactive absorption.
Mechanism :
Design of Packed Towers A common apparatus used in gas absorption and certain other
operations is the packed tower, an example of which is shown in Fig.6.10 . The device consists
of a cylindrical column, or tower, equipped with a gas inlet and distributing space at the bottom;
a liquid inlet and distributor at the top; gas and liquid outlets at the top and bottom respectively;
and a supported mass of inert solid shapes, called tower packing. The support should have a large
fraction of open area, so that flooding does not occur at the support plate. The inlet liquid, which
may be pure solvent or a dilute solution of solute in the solvent and which is called the weak
liquor, is distributed over the top of the packing by the distributor and, in ideal operation,
uniformly wets the surfaces of the packing. The solute-containing gas, or rich gas, enters the
distributing space below the packing and flows upward through the interstices in the packing
countercurrent to the flow of the liquid. The packing provides a large area of contact between the
phases. The solute in the rich gas is absorbed by the fresh liquid entering the tower, and diluted,
or lean gas, leaves the top. The liquid is enriched in solute as its flows down the tower, and
concentrated liquid, called strong liquor, leaves the bottom of the tower through the liquid outlet.
Tower Packings :-
Many kinds of tower packing have been invented, and several types are in common use.
Packings are divided into those which are dumped at random into the tower and those which
must be stacked by hand. Dumped packings consist of units 1/4 to 3 in. in major dimension;
packings smaller than 1 in. are used mainly in laboratory or pilot-plant columns. The units in
stacked packings are 2 to about 8 inches in size. Common packings are illustrated in Fig. 6.11.
The principal requirements of a tower packing are
• It must be chemically inert to the fluids in the tower.
• It must be strong without excessive weight.
• It must contain adequate passages for both streams without excessive liquid holdup or pressure
drop
. • It must provide good contact between liquid and gas.
• It must be reasonable in cost.
Liquid-Liquid extraction is a method by which a compound is pulled

from solvent A to solvent B where solvents A and B are not miscible. The most common
method of liquid-liquid extraction is performed using a separatory funnel.
Liquid-Liquid Extractor
Compounds which are poorly miscible in organic solvents but highly miscible in water
can be extracted into organic compounds either by (1) repetitive extraction with a
separatory funnel or (2) by using a liquid-Liquid extractor.
Extraction methods differ depending upon the density of the solvent being used.
Solvents more dense than water will require different glassware (or supplemental
glassware) vs. solvents that are less dense than water. There are presently a number
of setups that can do both. By adding a removable fritted glass tube, and closing the
solvent return tap, the setup below can be used to extract water continuously with a
solvent less dense than water (such as diethyl ether)
Application of Liquid liquid Extraction:-
Liquid-liquid extraction is an important separation technology for a wide range of applications in the
chemical process industries (CPI). Unlike distillation, which is based on boiling point differences,
extraction separates components based on their relative solubilities in two immiscible liquids.
Extraction is typically chosen over distillation for separation applications that would not be cost-
effective, or even possible, with distillation.

Mass Transfer: Unit Operation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mass Transfer: Unit Operation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mass Transfer: Unit Operation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Unit Operation :-

1)Distillation The purpose of distillation is to separate, by vaporization, a liquid mixture of

1) Oil Refinery industry

2) Water purification industry

3) In obtaining of pyridine (which is use a water proofing industry)

4) Argon in also obtain by distillation

Physical vs. Chemical Absorption

• It must be chemically inert to the fluids in the tower.

• It must be strong without excessive weight.

. • It must provide good contact between liquid and gas.

• It must be reasonable in cost.

Liquid-Liquid extraction is a method by which a compound is pulled

Application of Liquid liquid Extraction:-

You might also like