CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of temperature on the diffusion coefficient.

AIM

To determine the diffusion coefficient of an organic vapor (i.e. Acetone) in air.

THEORY

Diffusion is concerned with the movement of individual molecules through a substance by virtue
of their thermal energy. The phenomenon of molecular diffusion ultimately leads to a completely
uniform concentration of substances throughout a solution which may initially have been non
uniform.

So this equipment is very helpful in determining the diffusion coefficient of an organic vapour.
We can also study the effect of temperature on diffusion coefficient.

If two gases are inter-diffusing with continual supply of fresh gas and removal of the products of
diffusion, this diffusion reaches an equilibrium state with constant concentration gradients. This
is known as steady state diffusion. If also there is no total flow in either direction the rates of
diffusion of A and B, NA and NB are equal but have opposite sign.

According to Dalton’s law the total concentration of the two components C A and CB is constant,
given by

dC A dC B
 .
dx dx

The diffusional fluxes of species A and B, NA and NB are given by the Fick’s law as follows,

D D
NA  ( PA1  PA 2 ), N B  ( PB 2  PB1 ),
RTx RTx

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

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SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

where, PA1 and PA2 are the partial pressures of A at the boundaries of the zone of diffusion and x
is the distance over which diffusion occurs.

In case where gas A is diffusing through stagnant gas B (non-diffusing), the flow carries both
components in proportions to their partial pressure

N A PA N B PB
 .
P P

The total transfer of A is the sum of this proportion of the flow and the transfer by diffusion,
given by

PA D dp A
NA  N A  .
P RT dx

D dp B
N A  N A (1 - PB /RT)  .
RT dx

Or

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

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x pB 2
DP dpB
N A  dx   .
0
RT pB 1
pB

On integrating the above equation, we obtain an expression for the total flux of A, given by

DP p
NA  ln B 2 .
RTx pB1

This is the expression used for the experimental determination of vapour diffusion coefficients in
gases. In such a setting, diffusion is influenced through evaporation from a liquid surface in a
narrow bore tube and the fall in level of this surface is measured.

The distance of the liquid surface below the open end of the tube is measured before and after
evaporation over a definite time period. If the variation in level is small then arithmetic mean of
these two readings is taken as the value of x. In case there is an appreciable change in level, the
value of x is determined by integration between the initial and final readings of the level.

The rate of evaporation is thus given by:

DP PB 2  l dx
NA  ln  .
RTx PB1 M d

Integration of this expression yields:

 x
DP  PB 2  M 2

ln   d   xdx ,
RT  PB1   l 0 x1

DP  PB 2  M x 2  x1
2 2

ln   .
RT  PB1   l 2

Therefore

2 2
RT   l  x 2  x1
D  
PB 2  M  2 .
P ln
PB1

The other form this equation that is convenient to use is:

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

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D AB 
 2 2
 A x  xo RTpBM  . ------------------------ (Eq. 1)
2 P( p A1  p A 2 ) M A

In terms of concentration, the expression for DAB is:

2 2M A DAB C ACT

( x 2  xo )  , -------------------------- (Eq. 2)
 L C BM

C B1  C B 2
C BM 
where, C 
ln B1 
 CB 2 

Usually, xo will not be measured accurately nor is the effective distance for diffusion, x, at time
. Accurate values of (x - xo) are available, however, and hence Eq.2 can be rewritten as

  l C Bm  l C Bm
 ( x  xo )  xo -----------(Eq.3)
x  xo 2 M A DABC ACT M A DAB C ACT

A graph between  / (x – xo) against (x – xo) should yield a straight line with slope

l C Bm
S ------------------------------ (Eq.4)
2 M A DAB C ACT

Or
 l C Bm
D AB  ------------------------------- (Eq.5)
2 M A C A CT S

To determine total concentration

P
CT  kmol/m3 at operating temperature T (K)
RT
where,
P = 101.3 kN/m2
R = 8.314 m3-kPa/kmol-K

If the vapor pressure of the evaporating liquid (A) is V.P (kN/m2) at the operating temperature T
(K),
VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION
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then
 (V .P.) A 
CA     CT , C B1  CT ,
 P 

  P  (V .P.) A  
C B 2  CT    .
 P

Evaluation of Vapor Pressure of Acetone

Log  Pacetone 
2.4690  10 3
 28.5884   7.3510  10 0 Log  T   2.8025  10 10 T  2.7361 10 6 T 2 , mm Hg
T

The effect of temperature and pressure on co-efficient of diffusion, D, can be determined by

drawing a curve of (D*P) vs. T.

Air (B)

x-xo

Acetone
xo
(A)

DESCRIPTION

The equipment consists of a T-tube made of glass, placed in a constant temperature water
bath. The temperature of the bath is controlled by the digital temperature controller (DTC). An
air pump is used to supply the air, passed through the T tube. A volatile liquid is filled in the T-
tube and an air stream is introduced to come in contact with the liquid layer using an air pump.

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

The change in the liquid level in the T-tube due to diffusion is measured using a sliding
microscope.

UTILITIES REQUIRED:

Electricity Supply: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, and 0.6 kW.

Required Chemicals & Laboratory Glassware.

Bench Area 1.2m x 0.75m

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1. Clean the apparatus and make it free from dust.

2. Fill 3/4th water bath with water.

3. Set the water bath temperature at the desired level (30, 35, 40 and 45oC) and wait till the
bath attains the set temperature. Note the steady temperature of the bath.

4. Fill the T-tube with acetone to within two centimeters of the top of capillary leg. Note
down the initial diffusion height of liquid in the capillary and it should be below the
water level in the bath to maintain uniform temperature.

5. Make the connection with the Air or vacuum pump and allow a gentle current of air to
flow over the capillary.

6. Record the height of liquid (x) in the capillary after every 10 min. .

7. Repeat the steps 1 through 5 for different water bath temperatures.

SPECIFICATION:

Capillary : Material Borosilicate Glass.

Water Bath : Material Stainless Steel 304 grade, Capacity
8 Ltrs. Fitted with heater and stirrer
Heater : Nichrome Wire Heater.
Stirrer : Stainless Steel 304 grade Impeller and shaft
coupled with FHP motor.
Air Circulation : FHP Pump.
VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION
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Traveling Microscope : 0-150 x 0.1 mm resolution.

Temp. Sensor : RTD PT-100 type
Control panel comprising of : Digital Temp. Controller
Cum-Indicator (For Water Bath) : 0-199.9°C, RTD PT-100 Type.
Standard make On/off switch, Mains Indicator etc.
The whole set-up is mounted on a powder coated base plate.

FORMULAE:

1. Total molar concentration,

P
CT  kmol/m3 at operating temperature T (K)
RT
2. Diffusion coefficient,
 l C Bm
DAB 
2 M A C A CT S

3. Log mean concentration of Acetone.

CB1  CB 2
CBM 
C
ln B1
CB 2
4. C B1  CT kmol/m3
 P -  VP  A 
5. C B 2  C B1 * kmol/m3
P
 VP  A 
6. C A     CT
 P 

OBSERVATIONS

Diffusion for Acetone:

Total pressure = P = 101.3, kN/m2
Gas Law Constant = R = 8.3314, m3-kPa/kmol-K
Operating Temperature = T = -----------K
Density of Acetone, = l
0.29903
 T 
  1  g
 acetone  0.27728  0.25760  508.20 

cm 3

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

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OBSERVATION TABLE:
x0 = -------- mm
S. No Time, , sec x, mm

CALCULATION:
Vapor pressure of acetone can be obtained from the formula

where, T is in Degree Celsius and vapor pressure, VP is in kPa

With this equation of constants the vapor pressure of acetone at T = -------------oC
VP = --------- kPa = ---------- kN/m2

Plot of  / (x – xo) vs. (x – xo) yields a slope of:

(x - xo), mm /(x-xo), sec/mm

Least square equation of this line is:

y = mx + C
With
R2 = --------
From the graph slope
S = ------------ sec/mm2
= ------------ sec/m2
CT can be calculated by using formula no.1
Mol. Wt of acetone (MA) = 58.08 g/mol
Conc. acetone (CA) = ---------- kmol/m3
Density of acetone (l) = ----------- kg/m3

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

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CB1 = ----------- kmol/m3

CB2 = ----------- kmol/m3
CBm = ----------- kmol /m3
 l C Bm
Diffusion Coefficient (DAB) = = --------- m2 / s
2 M A C A CT S

Similarly repeating the calculations at different temperature K, we obtain,

DAB = ------- m2 / s
Tabulating the Diffusion data at three temperatures:
P = 101.3 kN/m2

Temp (T), K D, m2 / s D*P

Now Plot T vs. D*P on a log-log graph

By the equation obtained by above defined curve, we can study the effect of temperature on
diffusion coefficient.

NOMENCLATURE:
  time of evaporation
A = Density of acetone
x = Final height from top end of the tube after time 
xo = Initial height from top end of the tube
x - xo = Drop in liquid (acetone) level in time 
R = Gas Law Constant
T = Operating temp. K
MB = mol. Wt of air = 28.97 g/mol (component B)
MA = mol. Wt of acetone = 58.080 g/mol (diffusing component A)
P = Total Pressure, Atm.
PBM = log mean partial pressure of inert component (B, Air)

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION

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   
 P  P     P  P  
PBM   B2 B1
   A1 A2

 ln PB 2   ln  P  PA 2  
 PB1    P  PA1  

CA = molar concentrations of A
CB = molar concentrations of B
CT = Total molar concentration
DAB = DBA = Diffusivity coefficient of A/B

CONCLUSION: The diffusion coefficient for acetone is found out to be ………

VAPOUR IN AIR DIFFUSION