𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝑚

𝑁1 = 𝑘𝑐 𝑐1𝑖 − 𝑐1 = 𝑘𝑐
Units of 𝑘𝑐 is
𝑠
𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 𝑐𝑚3

For transfer from a well-mixed solution into another phase, 𝑐1𝑖 is saturation
concentration
What is 𝑐1𝑖 for these mass transfers?

Dissolution of sugar (solid) in stirred water (liquid) Evaporation of water (liquid) from a lake
into moving air (gas)

𝑝𝑠𝑎𝑡
Solubility of sugar in water, 𝑐𝑠𝑎𝑡 , say Saturation concentration of water in air, 𝑐𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
𝑅𝑇
1
Dissolution of oxygen (gas) in stirred water (liquid)

What is 𝑐1𝑖 for mass transfer of O2 into water?

• Solubility of oxygen in water, 𝑐𝑠𝑎𝑡 , say
• How is this solubility determined?
Air bubbles

Henry’s law is used to calculate the solubility of a sparingly soluble gas in liquid
Can you state this law? Let’s review it.

For dissolution of oxygen into water from air at 1 atm and 25 oC,
Henry’s law can be stated in many forms 𝐻 ′′ = 4.34 × 104 𝑎𝑡𝑚, find 𝑥 and then solubility of O2 in water, 𝑐𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝑝 0.21 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑐 = 𝐻𝑝 𝑥 = ′′ = 4 = 4.8 × 10−6
𝐻 4.34 × 10 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑝 = 𝐻′ 𝑐
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑝 = 𝐻 ′′ 𝑥 𝑐 = 𝑥𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 4.8 × 10−6 × 55 = 2.64 × 10−4
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 𝑚𝑜𝑙
Concentration of oxygen in air is 𝑃Τ𝑅𝑇 = 8.6 × 10−3 Check!
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟

• Oxygen is 33 times more concentrated in air than in water!

• Did you know this fact? 2
 Dissolution of sugar crystals Drying of wet cloth

At any given instant of time, 𝑡, Moving air

𝑐1𝑖 is

𝑐1 is
𝑐1𝑖 is
Based on above, explain why sugar dissolves faster at lower
temperature or higher temperature 𝑐1 is

Why do clothes dry faster in summer than in winter?

Dissolution of oxygen (gas) in stirred water (liquid)

𝑐1𝑖 is

Air bubbles 𝑐1 is

3
 Summary of driving forces for interfacial mass transfer

Mass transfer direction Solid to liquid Gas to liquid Liquid to gas Solid to gas

Driving force Solubility of gas in

𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝒄𝟏𝒊 − 𝒄𝟏 , gmol/cc Solubility of solid in liquid, ൗ𝑅𝑇 ൗ𝑅𝑇
(write only 𝑐1𝑖 in each liquid, 𝑐𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝐻𝑃 (or other forms of (saturation (saturation
column of this row) Henry’s law) concentration in gas) concentration in gas)

Interfacial area
We discussed the driving forces so far. There’s more to them, which will be covered later during discussion on units of mass
transfer coefficient. Let’s turn our attention to interfacial area. For fluid-fluid interfaces, this area can be tricky; for fluid-solid
interfaces it is well-defined. Consider the following examples for interfacial areas.

1. Sublimation of a naphthalene ball into air. If you assume that the ball is spherical, interfacial area is 4𝜋𝑟 2
2. Dissolution of a drug in stomach. If the drug is assumed to be a thin disk, area for mass transfer is 2𝜋𝑟 2 (thickness is
neglected)
3. Drying of a wet towel. If the towel is rectangular, interfacial area is length times breadth
4. Pure CO2 is bubbled through water producing large number of CO2 bubbles of different sizes. Can interfacial area be
found easily? No
4
4
 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

• How does pressure affect dissolution of a sparingly soluble gas in liquid?

• By how much driving force for evaporation of water from pond increase if temperature rises from 30 to 35 oC?
• How does rate of mass transfer change with time?
• Mole fraction of a gas in water in 1 x 10-3, what is the concentration of the gas in mol/liter?
• Henry’s law constant for oxygen-water system is 4.34 x 104 atm, what is the value of 𝑚 if equilibrium is
expressed as 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥? Take pressure of the system as 2 atm, oxygen is 21 vol% in air
• Penicillin is dissolved in an aqueous phase. This phase is brought into contact with butyl acetate phase.
Water and butyl acetate are mutually immiscible. The system is stirred vigorously with droplets of water
dispersed in butyl acetate. Penicillin is transferred into butyl acetate from water. Where is the interfacial area?
Will rate of stirring affect interfacial area? final concentration of penicillin in butyl acetate?