Learning Journal 2

--One Dimensional Steady-State Molecular

Diffusion
In

this

chapter,

we

learned

how

to

use

Ficks

equation

d yA
N A , z =c D AB
+ y A (N A , z + N B , z) ) and the general differential equation for
dz
cA
mass transfer ( N A +
R A ) to describe various cases of steady-state
t
molecular diffusion. The scenarios we looked at and the features of their
equations include:

cA
=0 for all steady-state molecular diffusions.
t

1. One-dimensional mass transfer without chemical reaction ( R A =0 )

-Unimolecular diffusion
-Pseudo-steady-state diffusion

A , L y B ,lm
MA
z 2t z 2t 0
Time required for liquid surface change z=z t 0 z=z t :t=
(
)
2
c D AB ( y A 1 y A 2 )
-Equimolar counterdiffusion of a binary gas mixture

N A , z =N B , z

-Diffusion in liquids

c is replaced by c avg=(

) =( 1 + 2 )/2
M avg M 1 M 2

-Diffusion of a gas in a solid

y A =0 ; c A=

S pA
; P = D AB S
22.414 M

-Diffusion of a liquid in a porous solid

D is replaced by

D A eff = D AB

2. One-dimensional mass transfer with chemical reaction (first order)

-Molecular diffusion with homogeneous reaction

R A =k 1 c A

-Molecular diffusion with heterogeneous reaction ( R A =0 )

If reaction is irreversible and instantaneous, y A 2=0
If reaction is irreversible and slow,
If

reaction

is

y A 2=

N A , z
k 1c

not instantaneous and not slow, express

according to stoicheiometry.
-Molecular diffusion with heterogeneous reaction with varying area
Use the according coordinate.

N B , z terms of N A , z