Computerised experiments on chemical processing drying and evaporation

Erika Mechlova, Libor Konicek and Boleslav Taraba

University of Ostrava 30. dubna 22, Ostrava, the Czech Republic, E-mail: erika.mechlova@osu.cz, libor.konicek@osu.cz, boleslav.taraba@osu.cz

Abstract Drying and evaporation are chemical processes which depend on materials. Some experiments are described with computer support of measurement and results of there with using different materials. The measurements were carried out by different computer aided systems and different force sensors for measurement of weight-shortage of water.

Keywords Science school Laboratory, e-ProLab CMC-S3, chemical processes

are in Petri dish diameter 9 cm, see Fig. 1. All samples have the same size. The first sample serves as comparative sample with free distilled water surface. The second one is filtering paper with small capillaries. The third one consists of glass pellets diameters of 6 mm with big capillaries. The fourth sample is pellets of silica gel with microcapillaries; silica gel is hygroscopic material that you can receive from sachets that are around electric appliances to absorb humidity during transport of these things.

1. INTRODUCTION
Submitting experiment is modelling experiment for school lessons in simplified approach. The main aim of experiment is drying four different materials and comparison evaporation water from different porous materials with different size of porous.

2. CHEMICAL PROCESSES EVAPORATION AND

DRYING

Evaporation is extraction of liquids from the surface of liquids or solid state bodies. Drying is extractions some water that are in wet solid state materials or solutions. The water must be removed from wet solid state material or aqueous solution before the required compounds can be properly characterized. There are many ways to do this extraction. For example in the organic chemistry are commonly used two methods of drying solutions: saturated aqueous sodium chlorate and solid drying agents. In technical practice the drying is carried out in dryer by the direct contact of wet material with drying gases that are air and burnt gas in special chamber. Technical drying demands expensive equipment. Suggested experiment of evaporation and drying is modelling experiment for school lessons in simplified approach.

Fig. 1. Samples of material in Pertri dishes.

All samples are dampened by pouring distilled water to the same heights of Petri dishes. Amount of distilled water is 25 ml. Petri dishes are placed on aluminium plate the same size as Petri dishes. 3.2 Set up of experiment Drying air is warming by heater that is about 30 cm below the samples and warm air flows up to the samples, see Fig. 2. Heater is regulated to 40 W. Every Petri dish is lying in horizontal aluminium plate of ISES force sensor with horizontal aluminium plate. Force sensors demand symmetrical voltage 12 V. This voltage is received by reduction of connector Canon 15 pin to the CMC-S3. Signals are connected to analogue inputs. Range of the ISES force sensor is from 2,5 N to +2,5 N. All four ISES force sensors are connected to CMC-S3.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLES AND SET UP OF

EXPERIMENT 3.1 Description of samples Four different samples of materials will be warming up in the same way. Samples have different capillary. Samples

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November 30 - December 1, 2007 Radovljica, SLOVENIA 1

floor by damp swab at the evening. The second one was decline of temperature of room and after-effect increasing of relative humidity.

Fig. 2. Set up of experiment. Heater is below four samples on horizontal force sensors

3.3 Measurement Heater is in service to provide stable conditions of measurement for force sensors. Measurement starts with calibration of four ISES force sensors with aluminium plates and samples in Petri dishes to the zero newtons. The same amount of distilled water 25 ml is pouring down to the every sample. Measurement starts with timing 5 seconds. Measurement is finished with total evaporation of controlled sample with distilled water. It consumes about 12 hours and depends on humidity of air in room.

Fig. 3. Process of drying four different samples of materials measured by ISES system.

4. RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS Evaporation of free distilled water does not depend on conditions of experiment. The first results were received by ISES system. Measurement was carried out in day of the week. Results are in graphs on Fig. 3. Line below is evaporation of free distilled water. The first line above this is sample with glass pellets damped with distilled water. Process of drying is similar to free water surface. The second measurement was carried out by CMC-S3 system, time range about 6 hours on Saturday, see Fig. 4. There are no big differences between results of measurements different samples. The third measurement was carried out in day of the week and results are in Fig. 5. Curve free water surface evaporation is below does not depend on events in classroom. Parallel line with this is drying curve of glass pellets does not depend on events in classroom. But the filtering papers curve has two maxima. Samples with layers of filtering papers and silica gel are drying the same way but drying is interrupted by two events that occurred in room. The first was cleaning the ComLab Conference 2007
Fig. 4. Process of drying four different samples of materials measured by CMC-S3 system (about 6 hours).

Fig. 5. Process of drying four different samples of materials was measured by CMC-S3 system (about 14 hours).

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4. CONCLUSION
Ling timing experiment on evaporation and drying different samples of material can be carried out in classroom at secondary school. The place for real experiment of drying has to be quiet, without shaking and stable conditions has to be satisfied. The experiment can be added by following measurements of temperature and relative humidity of room. The last experiment is more complex see Fig. 6. There are three different sensors: force sensors, temperature sensor, and humidity sensor. Bottom curves of graph describe changes of samples. Middle curves are temperature. Bottom temperature curve is temperature near samples a below temperature curves is temperature in laboratory room. Below graph describe changes of humidity in the room.

Significance of experiment lays on measurement real conditions and using of curiosity of pupils haw to explain curious graphs. CMSC-S3 system serves as very good and easy to implement on different sensors using symmetrical voltage

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This measurement and article was prepared by support of Leonardo da Vinci Programme in Project ComLab 2. The authors appreciate The University of Ljubljana for possibility to take part in this project.

REFERENCES
[1] A. W. Adamson, PA Textbookk of Physical Chemistry, 2nd Edn., Wiley, New York, 1973.

Fig. 6. Process of drying four different samples of materials was measured by CMC-S3 system (about 16 hours)

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