Fundamentals of Mass Transfer Operations

Understanding how substances move and separate is at the heart of chemical engineering and industrial processing. Whether you are designing purification columns or analyzing environmental systems, mastering mass transfer is essential for engineering success. This written course takes you from foundational physical chemistry concepts to the design principles of major separation equipment. You will develop a strong intuitive and mathematical understanding of how mass transfer occurs across different phases, preparing you to tackle real-world engineering challenges. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental mechanisms of molecular diffusion and convective mass transfer; Apply Fick's laws to predict diffusion rates in gases, liquids, and solids; Analyze gas absorption and stripping column operations using operating line equations; Determine distillation column stages using the McCabe-Thiele method; Evaluate liquid-liquid extraction and drying processes for industrial applications; Explore modern process intensification and sustainable separation concepts. The course begins with essential definitions, transport analogies, and governing equations before guiding you through step-by-step analyses of industrial unit operations. Through written explanations and practical calculation exercises, you will build a solid analytical foundation. This course is designed for engineering students, junior process engineers, and anyone looking to refresh their knowledge of separation processes. No prior advanced transport phenomena experience is required, though a basic understanding of chemistry and calculus is helpful. Start reading today to master the core principles of mass transfer and separation design.