PAAET

College Of Technological Studies

Department Of Chemical Engineering
Unit operation laboratory

Experiment 1

Diffusion of Gases

Student Name
Bandar Salem Al-Ajmi
Abdullah Al-Shemmari
Khaled Abdullah Mohammed
Salman Salem Al-Shemmari
Salman Fahad Al-Mutairi
Abdullah Al-Sahli
Abdullah Fahad Al-Mutairi
Yousef Mefleh Al-Azmi

Eng. Abdulkareem Al-Mutawa

1
 Objective

To determine the diffusion coefficient of a gas by evaporation

from a liquid surface and compared with an empirical formula.
Theory:
- Gas diffusion process can be seen every day such as perfume
can be smelt because it diffuses into the air and makes its way into
nose. Molecular diffusion is the transfer or movement of individual
molecules through a fluid by random molecular movements. In the
diffusion process, the molecules of interest flow from regions of high
concentration to low concentration.
The rate of diffusion is described by fick's law:
JA = - D AB ( dcA / dz )
Where
JA =molar flux of A in the z direction, relative to the total
flow(mol/cm2 .s)
DAB =diffusivity , ( Cm2/sec )
CA = molar concentration of A , ( mol / cm3 )
Z = direction of concentration gradient ( cm )
- 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, at different
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.
Also, the partial pressure at this point PA2= 0, since large volume of
air is passing by the tube.
The rate of mass transfer is given by :
N A = D ( CA / L ) ( CT/CBm)
Where :
D = Diffusivity ( m2/s)
CA = saturation concentration at interface( Kmol/m3)
CBm= Logarithrnic mean molecular concentration of
vapor(Kmol/m3)
CT = Total molar concentration =CA+CBm(Kmol/m3)

2
L = Effective distance of mass transfer ( mm)
NA = (p1/m)(dL/dt)
Where ρL is the density of the liquid.
Thus,
CA CT ρL dl
D( )( )=( )( )
L CBM M dt
Integrating and putting L = Lo at t = 0
2MD CA CT
L2 – Lo2 = [ ][ ]t
ρL CBM
Note : Lo and L can be measured accurately but L – Lo can be
measured accurately using the venire on the microscope.
2MD CA CT
( L-Lo ) ( L – Lo + 2 Lo ) = [ ][ ]t
ρL CBM
Or
t 2MD CA CT ρL C BM
=[ ][ ] ( L − Lo) + [ ] Lo
( L−Lo ) ρL CBM MDCACT
Now, equation of straight line Y = sX+k
t
Y= x = ( L – LO)
( L−Lo )
ρL CBM ρL CBM
S=[ ][ ] K=[ ]LO
2MD CACT MDCACT
Or
ρL CBM 1
D= [ ] [ ] ( ) m2/sec
2M CACT s
Where,
M = molecular weight ( Kg/Kmol).
T = time ( s )
Ct = ( 1/kmol vol ) ( Tabs/Ta ) ( Kmole volume = 22.4 m3/kmole)
Tabs = 273 K,
Ta = set temperature.
Example:
@ Ta = 40+273 = 313 k gives CT = 0.0389 ( kmole / m3)
CB1 = CT
Pa−Pv
CB2 =[ ] Ct ( Kmole /m3)
Pa
Pa = atmospheric pressure = 101.3 Kpa
Pv = vapor pressure. ( Kpa )
(CB1−CB2 )
CBM = CB1 ( kmol/m3)
ln( )
CB2

3
 Pv
CA = ( ) CT ( kmol/m3)
Pa

Acetone
Temperature , Temperature, Pv, kpa Density
oC K kg/m3
30 303 37.95 780.85
40 313 56 769.22
50 323 81 757.35

Diffusivity by Fuller's equation:

1x10-7 T1.75 (( 1 / M A ) + ( 1/MB)) 0.5

Where : m2/s
P ( ( Συ A ) 1/3 + ( Συ B ) 1/3 ) 2
T = Temperature in K.
MA = Molecular weight of Acetone = 58.08 Kg/Kmole.
MB = Molecular weight of air = 29 Kg/Kmole .
Συi = sum of structural volume increments for Acetone (CH3COCH3
) (υA) = 66.86, Air (υB)= 20.1
P = atmospheric pressure = 1 atm

Equipment:

- Gas diffusion apparatus.

- Acetone.
- syringe.
- Stop watch.

4
Procedure
1.Partially fill the capillary tube with Acetone to a depth of
approximately 35 mm.
2.Remove top nut from metal fitting.
3.Carefully insert capillary tube through the rubber ring,
inside the metal nut until the top of the tube rests on the
top of the nut.
4.Gently screw this assembly onto the top plate, with the 'T'
piece normal to the microscope.
5.Connect flexible air tube to one end of the 'T' piece.
6.With the microscope set up as shown, adjust the object
lens to within 20-30mm from the tank.
7.Adjust the vertical height of the microscope until the
capillary tube is visible, if the capillary tube is not visible;
adjust the distance from the object lens to the tank until it
is.
8.For a clearer and well-defined view of the meniscus inside
the capillary tube adjust the position of the viewing lens in
or out of the microscope body as necessary. Note that
when viewing the capillary tube the image will be upside
down, so that the bottom of the tube is at the top of image.
9.When the meniscus has been determined, the sliding
vernier scale should be aligned with a suitable graduation
on the fixed scale.
10.Switch on temperature controlled water bath (Adjust set
point on controller to the desired temperature) and obtain
a steady temperature.
11.Switch on air pump.
12.Record the initial level inside the capillary tube, (Ls).
13.Record readings of level change at every 10 minutes.
Note: To avoid the damage to the equipment do not set
the temperature controller above 60°C

5
Data and Result::
Ta = 40 oC = 313 K
Lo = 5 cm

Time L (L – Lo) (L – Lo) m T/L-Lo (sec/m)

(sec) cm
600 5.3 0.3 0.003 200000
1200 5.6 0.6 0.006 200000
1800 5.7 0.7 0.007 257142.86
300000

250000

200000
T/L-LO (SEC/M)

y = 1E+07x + 160440

150000

100000

50000

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008
L-LO

Sample of calculation:
1 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑠 1 273
CT = 𝑋 = 𝑋 = 0.0389 (Kmol )⁄m³
𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑇𝑎 22.4 313
CB 1 = CT = 0.0389
𝑃𝑎−𝑝𝑣 101.3−56
CB2 = 𝑋 𝐶𝑇 = 𝑋 0.0389 = 0.0174 (Kmol )⁄m³
𝑝𝑎 101.3
( 𝐶𝐵1−𝐶𝐵2 ) ( 0.0389 −0.0174 )
CBM = 𝐶𝐵1 = 0.0389 0.0267 (Kmol )⁄m³
𝐿𝑛 ( 𝐶𝐵2) 𝐿𝑛 ( )
0.0174
𝑝𝑣 56
CA = 𝐶𝑇 = 𝑥 0.0389 = 0.0215 (Kmol )⁄m³
𝑝𝑎 101.3
766.4 0.0267 1
D exp. = 𝑋 𝑋 = 4.356 x 10-5 𝑚2 ⁄𝑠
2 𝑥 58.08 0.0215 𝑥 0.0389 1 𝑥 107
1 X 10−7 (313)1.75 ( ( 1⁄58.08 )+ (1⁄29) ) 0.5
D fuller = 1 1 = 1.15 x 10−5 m2 ⁄s
1 ((66.86) )3 + (20.1) ) 3 )2

6
Ta = 50 oC = 323 k
Lo = 5 cm

Time L (L – Lo) (L – Lo) m T/L-Lo (sec/m)

(sec) cm
600 5.5 0.5 0.005 120000
1200 5.9 0.9 0.009 133333.3
1800 6.6 1.6 0.016 112500
135000

130000
T/L-LO (SEC/M)

125000

120000

y = -940860x + 131353
115000

110000
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.012 0.014 0.016 0.018
L-LO

Sample of calculation:
1 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑠 1 273
CT = 𝑋 = 𝑋 = 0.0377 𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙 ⁄
𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑇𝑎 22.4 323 m³
CB 1 = CT = 0.0377
𝑃𝑎−𝑝𝑣 101.3−81
CB2 = 𝑋 𝐶𝑇 = 𝑋 0.0377 = 0.00755 𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙 ⁄
𝑝𝑎 101.3 m³
( 𝐶𝐵1−𝐶𝐵2 ) ( 0.0377 −0.00755 )
CBM = = = 0.0187 𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙 ⁄
0.0377
𝐿𝑛 (
𝐶𝐵1
𝐶𝐵2
) 𝐿𝑛 ( 0.00755) m³
𝑝𝑣 81
CA = 𝐶𝑇 = 𝑥 0.0377 = 0.03 𝐾𝑚𝑜𝑙 ⁄
𝑝𝑎 101.3 m³
753.2 0.0187 1
D exp = 𝑋 𝑋 = - 2.357 x 10-4 𝑚2 ⁄𝑠
2𝑥58.08 0.03 𝑥 0.0377 −940860
1 X 10−7 (323)1.75 ( ( 1⁄58.08 )+ (1⁄29) ) 0.5
D fuller = 1 1 = 1.218 x 10−5 m2 ⁄s
1 ((66.86) )3 + (20.1) ) 3 )2

7
Comment:

• D α time

• D α Temp.

References:

Laboratory manual.