TITLE

Experiment 2: Gaseous Diffusion Coefficient

OBJECTIVES
To determine gas diffusion coefficient of acetone

INTRODUCTION
Process engineering has to deal with the transformation and distribution of materials
in bulk very frequently, hence, the knowledge of physical and chemical properties of
certain materials is very important. One such property is diffusivity.
Diffusion can be divided into two types: diffusion in a uniform concentration gradient
and diffusion in a non-uniform concentration. The uniform concentration obeys Ficks
first law where the constant of proportionality is the diffusion coefficient in

while the non-uniform concentration obeys the Ficks second law by assuming the
diffusivity is independent of the concentration.
Molecular diffusion is the transfer or movement of individual molecules through a
fluid by random molecular movements. During the diffusion process, molecules flow
from high concentration region to low concentration region. Molecular diffusion can
occur in both directions with the system. The diffusion mechanism happens when the
particles near each other at the corner of glass. Then, as time goes by, the particles
will move randomly around in the water, which by means diffuse. Then, the
particles will distribute randomly and uniformly in the water. The diffusion will still
continue to occur but there is no net flux.

In the case study based on Winkelmanns method, acetone is allowed to diffuse

through the air, which is a stream of vapour-free gas that is passed on top of the glass
tube. The diffusity of the vapour of volatile liquid(Acetone) in air could then be
determined. A water bath is used to maintain the temperature, thus, no eddy current
occurred in the glass tube. To obtain the coefficient of gaseous diffusion,
concentration gradient and the evaporation rate are needed.
The rate of mass transfer is given by:

N A D

CT

C Bm

Where,

CA
L

(1)

diffusivity [m2/s]

CA

saturation concentration at interface [kmol/m3]

L =

effective distance of mass transfer [m]

CT =

total molar concentration [kmol/m3]

CBm

logarithmic mean value of CB [kmol/m3]

Considering the evaporation of the liquid:

L dL

M dt

NA

Where,

(2)

L =
M =

density of liquid [kg/m3]

molecular weight [kg/kmol]

From Equation (1) and (2), the diffusivity of acetone, D can be calculated as:

L C Bm
2 MC A CT s

Where, s is the slope of the plot

L C Bm
2 MDC A CT

t
against ( L Lo )
L Lo

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS USED

Acetone

capillary tube

microscope

vernier caliper

water bath

syringe

gas diffusion apparatus and,

stop watch

(Fig.1.0 Equipment setup of experiment)

PROCEDURES
1) The water bath was filled with distilled water to approximately 20 mm from the top
2) The main power on the control panel was switched on
3) The set-point value on the temperature controller was adjusted to 50oC (Warning!!
Do not set the temperature controller beyond 70oC)
4) The heater was then switched on. The water temperature heats up to 50oC was
observed and remains constant.
5) The capillary tube was partially filled with acetone to a depth of about 15mm
6) The capillary tube was carefully inserted through the fitting on top of the water
bath cover
7) The initial level of acetone was observed through the telescope and the level of
acetone was recorded
8) The flexible tubing from the air pump line was connected to one end of the
capillary tube. Then, the air pump was switched on. The level of acetone was
observed and recorded for every 10minutes

RESULT
Temperature: 50 oC
Lo: 78.0mm
Point

Time,

t Level of acetone, L+Lo,

dL t/(L+Lo)( ks/mm) L-Lo

(ks)

L (mm)

(mm)

(mm)

0.00

78.000

156.00

0.00

0.00

0.60

78.400

156.40

0.00

0.40

1.20

78.850

156.85

0.01

0.85

1.80

79.250

157.25

0.01

1.25

2.40

79.750

157.75

0.02

1.75

3.00

80.150

158.15

0.02

2.15

3.60

80.650

158.65

0.02

2.65

4.20

81.100

159.10

0.03

3.10

4.80

81.600

159.60

0.03

3.60

10

5.40

82.050

160.05

0.03

4.05

(Table 1: Show the data obtained from the experiment)

(Graph 1: t/(L+ Lo) versus L- Lo)

CALCULATIONS
From graph plotted, slope s = 8.5x106 s/m2
Molecular weight of Acetone, M = 58.08 kg/kmol
Temperature, T = 323K
Absolute Temperature = 273K
Absolute Pressure, Pa = 1atm
kmol Volume = 22.4m3
Density, L = 760kg/m3
Partial Pressure, Pv = 0.806176493 atm

Total molar concentration, CT

CT =

= 0.037732198 kmol/m3

The logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapour, CBm

CB1 = CT = 0.037732198 kmol/m3

CB2 =

CT

0.037732198

= 0.007313387 kmol/m3

CBm

= 0.01853893 kmol/m3
Saturation concentration at interface, CA

CA =

CT

0.037732198

= 0.030418811 kmol/m3

Diffusivity, D

L C Bm
2 MC A CT s

8.5x10^
6

= 1.2433x10-5 m2/s

DISCUSSION
Throughout this experiment, our purpose is to determine the gaseous coefficient
diffusivity of acetone. Gas diffusion refers to a type of mass transport process
whereby molecules of interest flow from high concentration regions to low
concentration regions. The gaseous coefficient diffusivity of acetone could be
obtained from the gradient of the graph by calculating the evaporation rate and other
constant values. This experiment was carried using mainly the gas diffusion

apparatus. The procedures were carried out at temperature of 50C and the level of the
acetone inside the capillary tube was recorded for every 10 minutes. Since acetone
liquid has a low boiling point of 56C, the temperature set up should less than that
temperature in order to prevent it from being vaporized into the atmosphere.
Based on the data collected, the ratio of the time to the addition in height of acetone
was calculated. Moreover, a graph of the ratio against the difference in liquid level
were also plotted in order to determine the slope, which is necessary to calculate the
diffusivity of the acetone. From the result of the experiment, the diffusivity obtained
at 50

is 1.2433x10-5 m2/s while the theoretical value is 1.24 x 10-5m2/s. The

percentage error for this experiment is 0.266129%.

However, throughout the experiment, there are several errors occur which lead to the
inaccuracy of the results. One of the errors is parallax error. The eye level must be
perpendicular to the level of vernier caliper scale. Furthermore, the distance telescope
from the apparatus should be fixed throughout the whole experiment. In addition,
temperature of the water bath is one of the factors of affecting the accuracy of the
result. Diffusivity is highly dependent on temperature. Theoretically, the molecules of
substance possess higher kinetic energy and move more freely from the energy gained
at higher temperature. Thus, as temperature increases, the rate of diffusion into the
gaseous area increases too. Hence, the temperature of the water bath should always be
maintained at 50 . Also, the gaseous apparatus should put at the corner of the room
to prevent strong wind which will affect the results of this experiment as well. Last
but not least, the experiment should be repeated to get more accurate values in order
to increase the accuracy of the result during the experiment.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the diffusion rate of acetone is dependent on the temperature. As
temperature increases, diffusivity of acetone increases too according to the theory. At
the temperature of 50 , the diffusivity of acetone is 1.2433x10-5 m2/s while the
theoretical value is 1.24 x 10-5m2/s.

REFERENCE
Full report | Wan Ikrimah - Academia.edu. 2014. Full report | Wan Ikrimah Academia.edu.[ONLINE]Available

at:

http://www.academia.edu/5244084/Full_report. [Accessed 09 March 2014].

T. R. Marrero & E. A. Mason (2010). Gaseous Diffusion Coefficients. Journal of

Physical

and

Chemical

Reference

Data,

Vol

1.

http://jpcrd.aip.org/resource/1/jpcrbu/v1/i1/p3_s1?isAuthorized=no
April 2013]

Available

at

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