Estimation of the mass transfer coefficient for a 13C isotope separation process

Isotopes of various elements have different applications in a variety of fields such as hydrology, geology, and medicine. Particularly, the interest for ¹³C isotope has increased lately due to its applications in organic chemistry, oceanic and atmospheric studies, or medical investigations. However, the processes of ¹³C isotope separation are usually very complex and an insightful mathematical description of physical phenomena that occurs is often a requirement in tasks like optimization or process control. In this paper we present a method of estimation of the mass transfer coefficient for a cryogenic isotope separation process. Moreover, based on the experimental data, we will derive the related mass transfer coefficient interpolating polynomial. Thus, costly experiments that aim the determination of the isotope concentration achieved by the isotope separation plant, under certain conditions like the pressure and the temperature at which the separation process occurs, or the electrical power applied to the heating resistance, can be avoided.