Simultaneous mass transfer and equilibrium chemical reaction

Abstract

AbstractEquations predicting the effect of various types of equilibrium chemical reactions on the liquid‐phase mass transfer coefficient have been derived. In each case the reacting species were assumed to be present in equilibrium concentrations at all points along the diffusion path. Equations were derived for both the film and surface‐renewal theories of simple mass transfer in conjunction with these equilibrium reactions.The well‐known Hatta equation for the rapid second‐order irreversible reaction was shown to be a limiting case of the general equilibrium reaction A + B ⇌ E.The calculated mass transfer coefficients were found to be functions of the concentration driving force and the average concentration level over the diffusion path as well as of the magnitude of the equilibrium constant and the diffusivities of the reacting species.