NPTEL Chemical Mass Transfer Operation 1

MODULE 2: DIFFUSION

LECTURE NO. 5

2.5 Measurement of liquid-phase diffusion coefficient

There are few methods of determination of liquid-phase diffusivities. The most
commonly used method is Diaphragm cell method.

2.5.1 Diaphragm cell method

Diaphragm cell contains two compartments as shown in Figure 2.8. These are
separated by diaphragm. Let the area of the diaphragm is a and porosity is .
Effective area for diffusion = a
average length of diffusion path
(2.49)
diaphragm thickness
where is tortuosity. As the solute concentration is very low, bulk flow term can
be taken as zero. Hence,

Feed/sampling
Stir bar

Diaphragm

Rotating
magnet

Feed/sampling

Figure 2.8: Diaphragm cell

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NPTEL Chemical Mass Transfer Operation 1

dC A (C C A 2)
N A DAB DAB A1 (2.50)
dZ l
dC A1
V1 aN A (2.51)
dt
dC A2
and V2 aN A (2.52)
dt
Adding Equations (2.51) and (2.52) and substituting NA from Equation (2.50) we
have,

d (C A1 C A2 ) aDAB (C A1 C A2 ) 1 1
V V (2.53)
dt l 1 2

Boundary conditions
t=0, CA1=CA1,0; CA2=CA2,0
t=tf, CA1=CA1,f; CA2=CA2,f
1
l 1 1 C A1,0 C A2,0
Therefore, DAB
V V ln (2.54)
a t f C C
1 2 A1, f A 2, f

2.5.2 Semi-empirical Equation: Wilke-Chang Equation

1.173 1016 (M B ) 0.5 T

0
DAB m2/s (2.55)
0.6
B A

0
where, DAB is diffusivity of solute A in solvent B, m2/s, is association factor [for
H2O=2.26; MeOH=1.9; EtOH=1.5; non-associated solvent=1.0]; MB is molecular
weight of B; T is absolute temperature in K; B is solution viscosity, kg/m.s; A is
solute molar volume at normal boiling point, m 3/kmol [A=0.0756 m3/kmol for H2O
as solvent].

2.5.3 Stokes-Einstein Equation

Liquid diffusivity varies linearly with absolute temperature and inversely
proportional to viscosity of the medium. Hence,
DAB
Consta nt (2.56)
T

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