Assignment 1

Any required data may be obtained from available literature

1. An ethanol –water solution in the form of a stagnant film 2 mm thick at 293 K is in contact at
one surface with an organic solvent in which ethanol is soluble and water is insoluble. At
point 1, the concentration of ethanol is 16.6 wt% and the solution density is 972.8 Kg/m3.At
point 2, the the concentration of ethanol is 6.8 wt% and solution density is 988.1 kg/m3. The
diffusivity of ethanol is 0.740x10-9m2/s. Calculate the steady state flux NA.
2. A sphere of Naphthalene having a radius of 2 mm is suspended in a large volume of still air
at 313 K and 101.32 KPa. The surface temperature of naphthalene can be assumed to be at
313 K and its vapour pressure at 313 K is 74.65 Pa. The diffusivity of naphthalene in air at
313 K is 6.92x10-6 m2/s. Calculate the time required for complete evaporation of
naphthalene . Density of naphthalene =1145 kg/m3.
3. A mixture of oxygen and nitrogen gas is contained in a pipe at 298K and 1 atm total pressure
which is constant throughout. At one end of the pipe the partial pressure pA1 of oxygen is
0.70 atm and at the other end 0.8 m, pA2 = 0.2 atm. Calculate the molar and mass flux of
oxygen at steady state if DAB of the mixture is 0.206 cm2 /s.
4. An accidental opening of a valve led to spillage of water on the floor of an industrial
unit. The water layer is 3mm thick and at a constant temperature of 30O C .The ambient
air is at 101.32 KPa and 30°C having a RH (relative humidity)of 75%.Considering that
the water evaporates through an air film of thickness 0.50mm, estimate the time
required for its evaporation. State your assumptions.
5. Ammonia is cracked on a solid catalyst according to the reaction 2NH 3 = N2 + 3H2.
At one location in the reactor where the pressure is 101.32 KPa and the
temperatures is 473 K, the analysis of bulk gas shows 33.33% NH3, 16.67% N2
and 50% H2 volume. The conditions are such that ammonia diffuses from gas bulk
catalyst surface, and the reaction products diffuse back; this process as if by
molecular diffusion through a gas film of 1mm thickness under laminar flow
conditions. Estimate the local rate of cracking in Kg. NH 3 per sec. per m 2 of
catalyst surface, which might be considered to occur if the reaction is diffusion -
controlled (chemical reaction rate is very rapid), with concentration of ammonia
at catalyst surface equals to zero.
6. A sphere (diameter =5 mm) is made of copper sulfate (CuSO 4 .5H2 O ) falls
through a large tank of pure water at 25 oC. Consider that a water film having a
uniform thickness of 0.03 mm is present all around the sphere, and copper sulfate
diffuses into bulk water through this film by molecular diffusion. Estimate the
rate at which copper sulfate dissolves in water.