DepartmentofMaterialsScienceandEngineering

MSE626N:Assignment6(Problemonmasstransfer:steadydiffusion)

Problem 1: In studying the rate of leaching of a substance A from solid particles by a solvent we may postulate
that that the rate controlling step is the diffusion of A from the particle surface through a liquid film ( essentially
stagnant) out into the main liquid stream. The solubility of A in B is C
Ao
g-moles/cc and the concentration in the
main stream beyond the liquid film of thickness is C
A

(i) Obtain a differential equation for C
A
as a function of y by making a mass balance over a thin slab of
thickness z. Assume that diffusivity D
AB
is constant and that A is only slightly soluble in B
(ii) Show that in the absence of any chemical reaction concentration profile of A in the liquid is linear
(iii) Show that the rate of leaching is then given by:
o
o
) (
Ao A AB
AZ
C C D
N

=
Problem 2:A droplet of a substance is suspended in a stream of gas B that is essentially quiescent. The droplet
radius is r
1
. We postulate that there is a spherical stagnant gas film of radius r
g
. The concentration of A in the gas
phase is X
A1
at r=r
1
and X
Ag
at r =r
g
.
(i) By shell balance show that for steady state diffusion
Ar
N r
2
is a constant and set the constant equal to
1
2
1 Ar
N r the value at the droplet surface.
(ii) Derive the following relationship from (i) above
dr
dx
r
x
CD
N r
A
A
AB
Ar
2
1
2
1
1
= .
(iii) Integrate the above relationship between r
1
and r
2
to get
1
2
1
2
1 2
1
ln
B
B AB
Ar
x
x
r
r
r r
CD
N
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
(iv) If a mass transfer coefficient K
p
is defined as N
Ar1
=K
p
(p
A1
-p
A2
) show that r
2
tends to ,
ln
) (
2
B
AB
p
p
D CD
k =
in which D is the droplet diameter.

Problem 3: Moth balls are made from naphthalene, a volatile substance that sublimes with time. Given
that initial ball diameter is 1mm, diffusion coefficient of naphthalene in air at room temperature is 8x10
-6

m
2
/s, its molar volume is 1.83x10
-4
m
3
and the equilibrium partial pressure of Naphthalene vapour in
contact with solid Naphthalene is 30 Pa
(a) Estimate mass transfer coefficient and flux of naphthalene vapour away from the surface in
stagnant air.
(b) Suppose that the moth balls are left in a drafty room in which air flows past them with an
average velocity of 0.1m/s , Estimate the mass transfer coefficient and the corresponding flux.
You may carry out calculations based on the initial diameter, since the latter is small.
Problem 4:On the basis of the relationship ) / ( RT Q Exp C C
sat
sat
o
sat
= , calculate the concentration of hydrogen
dissolved in -iron at room temperature in equilibrium with a hydrogen gas partial pressure of 0.15 atm. Given that
C
sat
=370 and corresponding activation energy 27100 J/mol
Problem 5:On the basis of the above determine the steady state rate of diffusion of hydrogen through an iron
plate of 0.5mm thickness, 0.25 m
2
area. Given that D
o
is =2.3x10
-9
m
2
/s and corresponding activation energy is
660 J/mol. Assume an Arrhenius type expression for diffusion coefficient.