INTRODUCTION

In process engineering , the knowledge of physical and chemical properties of a certain material
is important because the process deal with the transformation and distribution of these materials
in bulk. One such property is diffusivity. Mass transfer coefficient can be estimated from the
theoretical equation , correlations , and analogies that are function of that materials properties.
The diffusivity of the vapour of a volatile liquid can be determined using Winkelmanns
method in which the liquid is contained in a vertical glass tube over the top of which stream of
vapour free gas is passed is allowed to evaporate. A water bath is provided for maintaining a
steady temperature to make sure there are no eddy current in the narrow diameter vertical tube
and an air stream is passed over the top of the tube to ensure that the partial pressure of the
vapour transferred from the surface of the liquid to the air stream by the molecular diffusion. The
transfer of the molecule through the fluid by a random molecular is called molecular diffusion.
The travelling telescope is provided for the determining. The mass transfer by diffusion take
place when there is concentration gradient of the diffusing component. With the knowledge of
that, the diffusivity of the vapour of the volatile liquid can be calculated.

THEORY
The diffusivity of the vapour of the acetone in this experiment can be determined by the
Winkelmanns method. Mass transfer take place in either a gas phase or a liquid phase or in both
simultaneously. The diffusion of vapour A from the volatile liquid into another gas B can be
conveniently studied by confining a small sample of the liquid in a narrow vertical tube.
Normally , B is air and A is an organic solvent such as acetone.
The apparatus consist of a glass capillary tube place in a transparent sided temperature
controlled water bath. A horizontal glass tube is fixed to the upper end of the capillary tube and
air is blown through the small pump included within the unit. A travelling microscope with
sliding vernier scale , is mounted on a rigid stand alongside the thermostatic bath and is used to
measure t inthe rate of fall of the air meniscus within capillary.
The relationship between the measured molar mass rate ( NA per unit area) , the partial pressure
gradient and diffusion coefficiect D is deduced from the one dimensional steady state version of
Ficks Law with bulk flow :

NA = D

(A)

: CA and CB are the molar concentration of the vapour A and air B respectively.
Where :
D = diffusivity [

CA = saturation concentration of mass transfer at the interface [

L = effective distance of mass transfer [m]

CT = total molar concentration

CBM = logarithmic mean value of CB [

Evaporation of the liquid :

NA =

(B)

Where , pL = density of liquid [

M = molecular weight [

Combination of equation A and B :

=D(

)(

The L0 is at t = 0, the slope of plotting the graph of

S=(

)(

The diffusivity :
D=

against ( L L0 ):

OBJECTIVES
The experiment is conducted to determine the gas diffusion coefficient of acetone using
established Winkelmanns method. Then , to investigate the relationship between time interval
and the level of the acetone. Besides that , determine the mass transfer equation using a Ficks
Law with a bulk flow. Lastly , to calculate the diffusion coefficient.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract ..
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Objectives.

3.0 Theory

4.0 Diagram and Description of Apparatus..

5.0 Experimental Procedures..
6.0 Result and Discussion..
7.0 Sample Calculation..
8.0 Conclusions and Recommendations.
9.0 References
10.0

Appendices