TUTORIAL CHAPTER 3 :MASS DIFFUSION IN LIQUID

QUESTION 1

It is desired to predict the diffusion coefficient of dilute acetic acid (CH3COOH) in water at 282.9 K
using Wilke Chang method. Compare the predicted value with the experimental value in Table 6.3.1.

Figure 1: Molecular Structure of Acetic Acid

QUESTION 2
Citric acid is used as a flavoring in many preparations of Vitamin C, and has a wide variety of other uses.
In industry, citric acid can be used to make good “natural” cleaners, though some may still contain
chemicals that are not exactly natural. A citric acid dissolves in a large tank of pure water at 293K is in
contact with an organic liquid film thickness 0.6 cm in which the water is insoluble. The diffusivity of
Citric acid in water has been determined experimentally to be 1.858 x 10 -9 m2/s at 37 oC.

Figure 2: Molecular Structure of Citric Acid

a) Estimate the diffusivity of citric acid in water at 20 oC using

i. Wilke-Chang equation
ii. Temperature corrected factor from the Stokes-Einstein equation.

QUESTION 3

The diffusivity of dilute methanol in water has been determined experimentally to be 1.26 x 10-9 m 2/s at
288K
(a) Estimate the diffusivity at 293 K using Wilke- Chang equation
 (b) Estimate the diffusivity at 293 K by correcting the experimental value at 288 K to 293 K.
T
(hint Do this by using the relationship D AB ∝ )
μB

Figure 3: Molecular Structure of Methanol

QUESTION 4
Acetic acid is most popularly known because of its use in vinegar. It is also known as the second
simplest carboxylic acid having the chemical formula C2H4O2 as shown in Figure 4. To predict
the diffusivity coefficient (DAB) of acetic acid in benzene, simple experiment was done by diffuse
the acetic acid through a thin film of benzene 3.00 mm thick at 298 K. The details condition at
each point is stated in Table 1. (MW: O: 16, C: 12, H: 1)

Figure 4: Molecular structure of Acetic Acid

Table 1: Details condition at each point

Point 1 Point 2

Concentration (wt%) 30 15

Density (kg/m3)  

a) Predict the DAB of acetic acid in benzene at 298K using Wilke-Chang equation and
Stokes-Einstein.
b) If the temperature condition is change from 298 K to 308K, calculate the new D AB value
of acetic acid in benzene using temperature corrected factor Stokes-Einstein equation.
 c) Calculate the steady flux of acetic acid, NA in kg mol/s.m2 in the benzene using the DAB
value obtained in (b). Assume 100 kg of total solution used in this case.
d) If the thickness of the thin film is increase from 3 mm to 5 mm, what would happen to the
steady flux of acetic acid value?

Viscosity of liquid benzene

Temperature (°C)  x 103 (Pa.s)

5 0.603
30 0.562
50 0.436
75 0.332
100 0.263

QUESTION 5
The formic acid is diffused through a thin film of water with 2 mm thick. The formula structure of formic
acid (CH2O2) is shown in Figure 5. The diffusivity of formic acid in water has been determined
experimentally to be 1.52 x 10 -9 m2/s at 25°C. The concentration of formic acid at point 1 is 19.5 wt%
(kg/m3and point 2 is 5.5 wt% (kg/m3).

Figure 5: Molecular structure of formic acid

a) Estimate the diffusion coefficient of formic acid in water at 25 oC using Wilke-Chang equation
and Stokes-Einstein.
b) Find the error of the estimate calculation for both equations.

c) Estimate the diffusion coefficient of formic acid in water at 35 oC using temperature corrected
factor from the Stokes-Einstein equation.
d) Calculate the steady flux of formic acid, NA in kg mol/s.m2 in the water using the mass
diffusivity value obtained from (c).