TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENT PAGE
ABSTRACT/SUMMARY 2
INTRODUCTION 2–3
AIMS/OBJECTIVES 3
THEORY 3–5
APPARATUS 5
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 6
RESULTS 7–8
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS 9 – 12
DISCUSSION 13
CONCLUSION 14
RECOMMENDATIONS 14
REFERENCES 14
APPENDICES 15

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY

This experiment is conducted to determine the diffusivity of the vapor of acetone and to study
the effect of temperature on the diffusivity. The experiment is conducted using Gas
Dispersion Apparatus by setting the heater of water bath to a temperature of 40 oC. The

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temperature is kept constant and 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 be air stream by
molecular diffusion. The initial reading and every 10 minutes subsequent reading of the liquid
acetone level are determined, and the experiment is conducted for 60 minutes. The experiment
is repeated by changing temperature to 50oC. A graph of t/L-Lo against L-Lo is plotted and best
straight line and slope of the graph are obtained. The diffusivity of acetone at two different
temperatures is determined through calculation. The diffusivity of acetone at temperature of
40oC is 1.77 x10-4 m²/s and temperature of 50oC is 5.22x10-4 m²/s. Throughout the experiment,
the diffusivity of acetone is determined to be higher at higher temperature. This fits the theory
where temperature affects the diffusion rate. However, several recommendations should be
considered to enhance the result and minimize the errors.

INTRODUCTION

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 apparatus that we are concerned with for this experiment is the Gas Dispersion Apparatus
that consists of an acrylic assembly which is sub-divided into two compartments. One
compartment is constructed from clear acrylic and is used as a constant temperature water
bath. The other compartment incorporates an air pump and the necessary electrical controls
for the equipment. The assembly is mounted on adjustable feet.

Quantifying mass transfer allows for design and manufacture of separation process equipment
that can meet specified requirements, estimate what will happen in real life situations
(chemical spill), etc. Mass transfer coefficients can be estimated from many different
theoretical equations, correlations, and analogies that are functions of material properties,
intensive properties and flow regime (laminar or turbulent flow). Selection of the most
applicable model is dependent on the materials and the system, or environment, being studied.

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AIMS/OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment are:

1. To determine the diffusivity of the vapor of acetone

2. To study the effect of temperature on the diffusivity

THEORY

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:

Where
CA Saturation conc. at interface [kmol m-3]

CBM Logarithmic mean molecular conc. of vapor [kmol m-3]

CT Total molar conc. = CA + CBM [kmol m-3]

L Effective distance of mass transfer [mm]

D Diffusivity [m2 s-1]

Considering the evaporation of the liquid:

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 where ρL is the density of the liquid.

Thus,

Integrating and putting L = Lo at t = 0

- Lo and L cannot be measured accurately but L-Lo can be measured accurately using

the vernier on the microscope.

Or

where
M = Molecular weight (kg/kmol)
t = time (s)

If s is the slope of a graph of t(L - Lo) against (L - Lo) then :

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where

APPARATUS
1. Gas Dispersion Apparatus.
2. Water bath
3. Capillary tube
4. Liquid acetone

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Fill the capillary tube with Acetone to a height of approximately 35 mm using a

syringe.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 the image.
5. When the meniscus has been determined, the sliding vernier scale should be aligned
with a suitable graduation on the fixed scale.
6. Switch on air pump and the water bath.

7. Set a temperature, t = 40oC and obtain a steady temperature.

8. Record the level inside the capillary tube (at time t=0, L=L o) every 12 minutes until
the 60th minute.
9. Repeat the same experiment at a different temperature of 50°C.

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RESULTS
Temperature: 40°C
Lo= 44.70 mm
Time, t (min) Reading on vernier of Liquid level (L-Lo) t
(min/mm)
L−Lo
time, L (mm) (mm)
0 44.70 0.00 0.00
10 45.00 0.30 33.30
20 45.20 0.50 40.00
30 45.50 0.80 37.50
40 45.70 1.00 40.00
50 45.90 1.20 41.67
60 46.20 1.50 40.00

Graph of t/L-Lo against L-L0

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f(x) = 20.51 x + 17.68
40
35
30
25
t/L-L0 20
15
10
5
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
L-L0

Temperature: 50°C
Lo= 42.00 mm

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 Time, t (min) Reading on vernier of Liquid level (L-Lo) t
(min/mm)
L−Lo
time, L (mm) (mm)
0 42.00 0.00 0.00
10 42.50 0.50 20.00
20 42.90 0.90 22.22
30 43.20 1.20 25.00
40 43.70 1.70 23.53
50 44.10 2.10 23.81
60 44.50 2.50 24.00

Graph of t/L-L0 against L-L0

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f(x) = 7.15 x + 10.71
25

20

15
t/L-L0
10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
L-L0

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Calculation at T= 50°C

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1. Liquid level, L-Lo = 42.50 mm – 42.00 mm
= 0.5 mm
t 10 min
2. =
L−Lo 0.5 mm
= 20.00 min/mm
From the graph plotted,
3. Slope, s = 7.145 min/mm2
= 4.3 x 105 s/m2

4. Molecular weight, M (kg/kmol)

Molecular weight of acetone 58.08 g /mol

58.08 kg/kmol

5. Total molar concentration, CT (kmol/ m3)

¿ ( 22.41 )( 273
323 )

¿0.0377 kmol / m³

6. Logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapour, CBm (kmol/ m3)

CB1= CT
CB1 = 0.0377 kmol / m³

C B 2= ( Pa− Pv
Pa )
C T

101.3−56
CB2¿ × 0.0377
101.3
¿ 0. 0169 kmol /m ³

( C B 1 −C B 2 )
C Bm =
C B1
ln ( )
C B2

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 (0.0377−0. 0169)
¿
0.0377
ln
0.0169

0.0259 kmol /m³

7. Saturation concentration at interface, CA (kmol/ m3)

PV
C A= ( )Pa
CT

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¿ ( 101.3 ) 0.0377
¿ 0.0208 kmol /m³

8. Diffusivity, D (m2/s)

( ρ L C Bm )
D=
s ( 2 MC A C T )

ρ L=790 kg /m³

( 790 kg /m3 ) (0.0259 kmol /m3)

D=
kg
(
(4.3 x 105 s /m ²) ( 2 ) 58.08
kmol )
(0.0208 kmol /m3 )(0.0377 kmol /m3 )

= 5.22x10-4 m² / s

Calculation at T= 40°C

1. . Liquid level, L-Lo = 45.00 mm – 44.70 mm

= 0.30 mm
t 10 min
2.
L−Lo
= 0.3 0 mm
= 33.30 min/mm

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From the graph plotted,
3. Slope, s = 20.50 min/mm2
= 1.23 x 106 s/m2

4. Molecular weight, M (kg/kmol)

Molecular weight of acetone 58.08 g /mol

58.08 kg/kmol

5. Total molar concentration, CT (kmol/ m3)

¿ ( 22.41 )( 273
313 )

¿0.0389 kmol / m³

6. Logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapour, CBm (kmol/ m3)

CB1= CT
CB1 = 0.0389 kmol / m³

C B 2= ( Pa− Pv
Pa )
C T

101.3−56
CB2¿ × 0.0389
101.3
¿ 0. 0174 kmol /m ³

( C B 1 −C B 2 )
C Bm =
C B1
ln( )
C B2

(0.0389−0. 0174)
¿
0.0389
ln
0.0174

0.0267 kmol /m ³

7. Saturation concentration at interface, CA (kmol/ m3)

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 C A= PV C T
Pa( )
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¿ ( 101.3 ) 0.0389
¿ 0.0215 kmol /m³

8. Diffusivity, D (m2/s)

( ρ L C Bm )
D=
s ( 2 MC A C T )

ρ L=790 kg /m³

( 790 kg /m3 ) (0.0267 kmol /m3 )

D=
kg
(
(1.23 x 106 s /m²) ( 2 ) 58.08
kmol )
(0.0215 kmol /m 3)(0.0389 kmol / m3)

= 1.77 x10-4 m² / s

DISCUSSIONS

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This experiment is conducted to determine the diffusivity of acetone which is the volatile
liquid in the air. Based on data collected, graph of t/(L-Lo) against L-Lo is plotted. The slope,
s obtained from the graph is used to calculate the diffusivity of acetone at different
temperatures of 40oC and 50oC.

The slope for 40°C and 50°C are 1.23 x 10 6 s/m2 and 4.3 x 105 s/m2 respectively. This shows
that the slope of the graph for 40°C is steeper than the 50°C. Hence, the value of diffusivity of
acetone at 40°C is 1.77x10-4 m²/s while at 50°C is 5.22x10-4 m2/s. This means that the
diffusivity at high temperature is higher than the diffusivity at low temperature. The condition
has proven the theory which states the rate of diffusivity is higher at higher temperature. This
is because at higher temperature, the acetone molecules gain more kinetic energy from the
heat compared the lower temperature which gains lesser kinetic energy from the heat. The
molecules move faster and there will be more spontaneous spreading of the material which
means that diffusion occurs quicker. The acetone molecules of higher temperature can escape
to the air faster and thus, the diffusivity rate is higher than the one of lower temperature.

However, the set up temperature should not exceed the boiling point temperature of acetone,
which is 56.5°C because the determination of diffusivity rate is less accurate at temperature
near its boiling point. This is because the acetone undergoes evaporation at high rate and we
cannot read the level of meniscus on the sliding vernier scale since the acetone is a volatile
liquid. It can be concluded that the diffusivity of acetone is affected by the temperature.
Higher temperature gives higher diffusivity rate of acetone.

During conducting this experiment, there will be some error occurs and affecting result to
become less accurate. Firstly, the time from commencement for this experiment is only 15
minutes. We should take at longer period of time because acetone cannot diffuse easily at low
temperature. Next, the air flow should be kept constant to ensure the partial pressure of the
vapour is transferred from the surface of the liquid to the air stream is at constant rate. Then,
the level of acetone in the capillary tube should be kept immersed in the water bath because
the temperature of air might differ from the water bath. Hence, the diffusivity would not
accurate anymore.

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CONCLUSION
Throughout this experiment, it is determined that the liquid level, L-Lo is proportional to the
t/(L-Lo). The slope of the graph is used to determine the diffusivity of acetone at temperature
of 40°C and 50°C. The calculated value of diffusivity of acetone at temperature of 40°C and
50°C is 3.415x10-7 m²/s and 9.478x10-7 m2/s respectively. Hence, it can be concluded that
diffusivity rate of acetone is higher at higher temperature compared to lower temperature.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To increase the accuracy of our result, the following recommendations should be considered:
1. The temperature should not exceed 50°C because it is near the boiling point of acetone
which is 56.5°C. This will effect our results later on.
2. Repeat this experiment at least 2 times to gain more accurate results.
3. The level of liquid acetone in the capillary tube must be immersed fully in the water
bath.
4. The speed of air flow must kept constant throughout the experiment.
5. The level of meniscus must be correctly measured on the microscope and also on the
vernier scale.

REFERENCES

1. Bird, R.B., Stewart, W.E., Lightfoot, E.N., Transport Phenomena, John Wiley and Sons,
New York, NY (1960).

2. Welty, J.R., Wicks, C.E., Wilson, R.E., Fundamentals of Momentum, Heat and Mass
Transfer, John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY (1984).

3. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_temperature_affect_diffusion_rate

4. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index

5. http://www.studyzones.com/questionzone/answer/73267x1565/How-does-temperature-
affect-the-rate-of-diffusion.

APPENDICES

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 Physical and Chemical Properties of Acetone

 Appearance:
Clear, colorless, volatile liquid.
Odor:
Fragrant, mint-like
Solubility:
Miscible in all proportions in water.
Specific Gravity:
0.79 @ 20C/4C
% Volatiles by volume @ 21C (70F):
100
Boiling Point:
56.5C (133F) @ 760 mm Hg
Melting Point:
-95C (-139F)
Vapor Density (Air=1):
2.0
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg):
400 @ 39.5C (104F)
Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1):
ca. 7.7
 Gas Dispersion Apparatus

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