Synthesis of mass exchange networks

Mass-exchange units are ubiquitously used in industrial facilities. A mass exchanger is any direct-contact mass-transfer unit that employs a mass-separating agent (MSA) or a lean phase (e.g., a solvent, an adsorbent, a stripping agent, an ion exchange resin) to selectively remove certain components (e.g., pollutants, products, byproducts) from a rich phase (e.g., a waste, a product). Examples of mass-exchange operations include absorption, adsorption, stripping, solvent extraction, leaching, and ion exchange. Appendix 2, Modeling of Mass-Exchange Units for Environmental Applications, provides an overview of the principles of modeling, designing, and operating individual mass-exchange units.