Scribd
Upload
53 views2 pages

Theory

Diffusion is the spread of particles from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration. The rate of diffusion depends on factors like temperature, density, and concentration gradients. Winklemann's method can be used to determine the diffusivity of a volatile liquid vapor in air by measuring the evaporation rate of a liquid in a vertical tube with air flowing over it. The evaporation rate equation relates diffusion rate to factors like diffusivity, saturation concentration at the interface, effective mass transfer distance, and logarithmic mean molecular concentrations. By measuring the decrease in liquid level over time, the slope of a graph can be used to calculate diffusivity.

Uploaded by

Mustaqim Zakaria
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
53 views2 pages

Theory

Diffusion is the spread of particles from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration. The rate of diffusion depends on factors like temperature, density, and concentration gradients. Winklemann's method can be used to determine the diffusivity of a volatile liquid vapor in air by measuring the evaporation rate of a liquid in a vertical tube with air flowing over it. The evaporation rate equation relates diffusion rate to factors like diffusivity, saturation concentration at the interface, effective mass transfer distance, and logarithmic mean molecular concentrations. By measuring the decrease in liquid level over time, the slope of a graph can be used to calculate diffusivity.

Uploaded by

Mustaqim Zakaria
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Theory

Diffusion describes the spread of particles through random motion from regions of higher
concentration to regions of lower concentration. The coefficient of diffusion is the product of
mean velocity and mean free path, with a prefactor that can be temperature dependent. The mean
velocity depends only on temperature; the mean free path is inversely proportional to the density
of the gas. Thus, a thinner atmosphere has a higher diffusivity. The diffusivity of the vapor of a
volatile liquid in air can be conveniently determined by Winklemann’s method in which liquid is
contained in a narrow diameter vertical tube, maintained at a constant temperature, and an air
stream is passed over the top of the tube to ensure that the partial pressure of the vapor is
transferred from the surface of the liquid to the air stream by molecular diffusion.
The rate of mass transfer is given by:
CA CT
N ' A =D ( )( )
L C Bm
Where, D = diffusivity (m2/s)
CA = saturation concentration at interface (kmol/m3)
L = Effective distance of mass transfer (mm)
CBm = logatithmic mean molecular concentration of vapor (kmol/m3)
Cr = Total molecular concentration =CA + CBm (kmol/m3)
Considering the evaporation of the liquid:

N 'A= ( Mρ ) dLdt
L

Where ρL is the density of the liquid.


Thus,
ρ L dL CA CT
( )
M dt
=D
L ( )( ) C Bm
Integrating and putting L = L0 at t = 0
2 MD CA CT
2
L −L =
2
( ρL )( C Bm
t )
L and L0 cannot be measured accurately but the L – L0 can be measured accurately by using the
vernier of the microscope.
CA CT
( L−L0 ) ( L−L0+ 2 L0 ) = ( 2 MD
ρ )( C )
L
t
Bm

or
t ρL C Bm ρ L C Bm
=
L−L0 2 MD ( )( )
C A CT
( L−L0 ) +( L
MD C A CT 0)
Where, M = molecular weight (kg/mol)
t = time (s)
t
if s is the slope of a graph of against ( L−L0 ) then:
(L−L0 )
(ρ L C Bm) (ρ L C Bm)
s= ∨D=
(2 MD C A CT ) s(2 M C A C T )
Where:

C T= ( Kmol1 Vol ) ¿
C B 1=C T
P a−Pv
C B 2= ( Pa )
CT

( C B 1−C B 2 )
C Bm=
CB1
ln ( )
CB2
Pv
C A=( )C
Pa T

You might also like