102 MASS-TRANSFER

nONS

3. Crank,J.: "The Mathematicsof Diffusion," Oxford UniversityPress,Fair Lawn, NJ., 1956.

4. Crank,J., and G. S. Park (cds.):"Diffusion in Polymers,"Academic,New York, 1968.
S. Dale, W. C., and C. E. Rogers:AIChEJ., 19,445(1973).
6. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc.: du Pont Petrol. Chem. News, no. 172, 1972; no. 174,
1973.

7. Evans,R. B., B. M. Watson,and E. A. Mason:J. Chem.Phys.,33, 2076(1961).

8. Jost,W.: "Diffusion in Solids,Liquids,and Gases,"Academic,New York, 1960.
9. Komiyama,H., and J. M. Smith: AIChEJ., 20,1110,(1974).
10. Newman,A. B.: Trans.AIChE, 27, 203,310(1931).
11. Rogers,C. E., M. Fels,and N. N. Li, RecentDev.Sep.Sci.,2.,107(1972).
12. Rothfield,L. B.: AIChE J., 9, 19(1963).
13. Satterfield,c. N.: "MassTransferin Heterogeneous
Catalysis,"M.I.T. Press,Cambridge,Mass.,
1970.
14. Satterfield,C. N., C. K. Colton, and W. H. Pitcher,Jr.: AIChE J., 19,628 (1973).
IS. Scott,D. S.,and F. A. L. Dullien: AIChEJ., 8, 713(1962).
16. Shewman,P. G.: "Diffusion in Solids,"McGraw-Hill Book Company.New York, 1963.
17. Stark,J. P.: "Solid StateDiffusion," Wlley-intencience,New York. 1976.
18. Van Arsdei.W. B.: Chem.Eng.Prog..43. 13(1947).
19. Wakao,N., and J. M. Smith: Chem.Eng.Sci.. 17.825(1962).
20. Youngquist,G. R.: Ind. Eng. Chem.,62(8).53 (1970).

PROBLEMS
4.1 Removal of soybean oil impregnating a porous clay by contact with a solvent for the oil has
been shown to be a matter of internal diffusion of the oil through the solid [Boucher, Brier, and
Osburn, Trans.AIChE, 38, 967 (1942)]. Such a clay plate, k in thick, 1.80 in long. and 1.08in wide
(1.588 by 45.7 by 27.4 mm), thin edges sealed, was impregnated with soybean oil to a uniform
concentration 0.229 kg oil/kg dry clay. It was immersed in a flowing stream of pure tetrachloroethylene at 120F (49q, whereupon the oil content of the plate was reduced to 0.048 kg
oil/kg dry clay in 1 h. The resistanceto diffusion may be taken as residing wholly within the plate,
and the final oil content of the clay may be taken as zero when contacted with pure solvent for an
infinite time.
(a) Calculate the effective diffusivity.
(b) A cylinder of the same clay 0.5 in (12.7 mm) diameter, 1 in (25.4 mm) long. contains an
initial uniform concentration of 0.17 kg oil/kg clay. When immersed in a flowing stream of pure
tetrachloroethylene at 49c, to what concentration will the oil content faU in 10 h? ADS.:0.0748.
(c) Recalculate part (b) for the caseswhere only one end of the cylinder is sealed and where
neither end is sealed.
(d) How long will it take for the concentration to faU to 0.01 kg oil/kg clay for the cylinder of
part (b) with neither end sealed?ADS.:41 h.
4.2 A slab of clay, like that used to make brick, SOmm thick, was dried from both flat surfaceswith
the four thin edgessealed,by exposure to dry air. The initial uniform moisture content was .I5%.The
drying took place by internal diffusion of the liquid water to the surface,followed by evaporation at
the surface. The diffusivity may be assumedto be constant with varying water concentration and
uniform in aU directions. The surface moisture content was 3%. In 5 h the average moisture content
had fallen to 10.2%.
(a) Calculate the effective diffusivity.
(b) Under the same drying conditions, how much longer would it have taken to reduce the
averagewater content to 6%?
(c) How long would be required to dry a sphere of ISO mm radius from IS to 6% under the
samedrying conditions?
(d) How long would be required to dry a cylinder 0.333 m long by ISO mm diameter, drying
from aU surfaces,to a moisture content of 6%? ADS.:47.5 h.

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DIFFUSIONIN SOUDS 103

4.3 A spherical vesselof steel walls 2 mm thick is to contain I I of pure hydrogen at an absolute
pressureof 1.3 X If/' N/m2 (189Ibr/in1 and temperature300C. The internal surface will be at the
saturation concentration of hydrogen; the outer surfacewill be maintained at zero hydrogen contenL
The solubility is proportional to PII/2, whereP, is the hydrogen pressure; and at I std atm, 300c, the
solubility is I ppm (parts per million) by weight. At 300c, the diffusivity of hydrogen in the
steel - 5 X 10-10 m2/s. The steel density is 7500 kg/m3 (468 Ib/ft3).
(a) Calculate the rate of loss of hydrogen when the internal pressureis maintained at 1.3 X If/'
N/m2, expressedas kg/h.
(b) If no hydrogen is admitted to the vessel,how long will be required for the internal pressure
to fall to one-half its original value? Assume the linear concentration gradient in the steel is always
maintained and the hydrogen follows the ideal-gaslaw at prevailing pressures. Am.: 7.8 h.
4.4 An unglazed porcelain plate 5 mm thick has an averagepore diameter of 0.2 p.m. Pure oxygen
gas at an absolute pressure of 20 mmHg, 100c, on one side of the plate passedthrough at a rate
0.093 cm3 (at 20 mmHg, loooq/cm2. s when the pressureon the downstream side was solow as to
be considered negligible. Estimate the rate of passageof hydrogen gas at 25C and a pressureof 10
mmHg abs, with a negligible downstream pressure. Am.: 1.78 x 10-6 kmol/m2. s.