BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Molecular Diffusion in Solids

BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Introduction
 Diffusion of solute in solid is slower than diffusion of solute in
liquid and gases

 Example application:
 Leaching of food
 Drying of timber, salt, food, etc.
 Catalytic reaction in solid catalyst
 Separation of fluid by membrane

 Diffusion solute in solids can be categorized into two group

1. Diffusion which follow Fick’s law and does not depend on the
actual structure of the solid
2. Diffusion in porous solids which is depend on the actual
structure and void structure of the solid

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Diffusion in Solids which Follow Fick’s Law and Does

Not Depend on The Structure of Solids
 Diffusion occur when the fluid or solute diffusing dissolve in the
solid to form a more or less homogeneous solution

Diffusion in Solid General Equation Neglect convective

term and assume
DAB≠ DBA dc A
N A   D AB constant
dz concentration

Slab Solid Cylinder Wall

(c A1  c A 2 ) 2L
N A   D AB N A   D AB (c A1  c A2 )
( z 2  z1 ) In(r2 / r1 )
r1: inner radius r2: outer radius

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Diffusion in Solids which Follow Fick’s Law and Does

Not Depend on The Structure of Solids
 Sometimes flux can be expressed in term of solubility (S)
S= m3 (STP) /m3 solid . atm SI units
S= cm3 (STP) /cm3 solid . atm cgs units

 Relation between solubility and concentration

SI unit cgs unit

Sp A kgmol A Sp A gmol A
cA  cA 
22.414 m 3 solid 22414 cm 3 solid

 Equation for flux: (SI unit)

D AB S ( p A1  p A 2 )
NA 
22.414( z 2  z1 )
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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Diffusion in Solids which Follow Fick’s Law and Does

Not Depend on The Structure of Solids
 Many data in literature do not the value of DAB and S , but more
often in term of permeability, PM
 Then the flux is expressed as:

PM ( p A1  p A 2 )
NA 
22.414( z 2  z1 )

 Several unit for PM in literature

PM = DABS PM=m3(STP)/(s.m2.atm/m) SI unit

PM=10-4 P’M P’M= cm3(STP)/(s.cm2.atm/cm) cgs unit
PM=7.60 x 10-4 P’M P”M= cm3(STP)/(s.cm2.cmHg/mm)

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Diffusion in Solids which Follow Fick’s Law and Does

Not Depend on The Structure of Solids
 When several layer solid 1,2,3…..in series and L1,L2,L3…represent
thickness, flux for diffusion in solid is:

( p A1  p A 2 ) 1
NA 
22.414  L1 L2 L3 
    ...
 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Class Discussion
Example

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Class Discussion
Example 6.5-2

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

Diffusion in Porous Solids that Depend on the Structure

 Concerned about the porous solid that have pores or

interconnected void in solid which will affect the diffusion

Diffusion in Porous Solids

Diffusion of Liquid Diffusion of Gases

D AB (c A1  c A2 ) D AB (c A1  c A 2 ) D AB ( p A1  p A 2 )
NA  NA  
 ( z 2  z1 )  ( z 2  z1 ) RT ( z 2  z1 )

ε –void fraction; τ –tortuosity; DA,eff=(ε DAB/ τ)=effective diffusivity

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

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BKC3413: Chapter 5 FKKSA, KUKTEM

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