Exercise 3.

15

Subject: Mass transfer of isopropyl alcohol (A) by molecular diffusion through liquid water and
gaseous nitrogen at 35oC (308 K) and 2 atm

Given: Critical conditions for nitrogen and isopropyl alcohol and molar liquid volume of
isopropyl alcohol.

Assumptions: Ideal gas law.

Find: (a) Diffusivity of A in liquid water by Wilke-Chang equation.

(b) Diffusivity of A in gaseous nitrogen by the Fuller, Schettler, Giddings equation.
(c) The product, DABDAB c for part (a).
(d) The product, DABDAB c for part (b).
(e) Comparison of diffusivities in parts (a) and (b).
(f) Comparison of results from parts (c) and (d).
(g) Conclusions about diffusion in the liquid versus the vapor phase.

Analysis: (a) For the Wilke-Chang equation (3-39), use B = 2.6 and MB =18.

From Perry's Handbook, B = 0.78 cP.

From Table 3.3, 3(14.8) + 8(3.7) + 7.4 = 81.4

 From Eq. (3-39),

7.4 108  2.6 18

1/ 2
308
DA,B   1.43 105 cm2 /s
0.78(81.4)0.6

(b) For the Fuller-Schettler-Giddings Eq. (3-36), use T = 308K and P = 2 atm, with,
2
M A,B   38.3
1 1

60.4 28
From Table 3.1,

V A  3(15.9)  8(2.31)  611

.  72.3 V B  185
.

0.00143(308)1.75
DA,B   0.056 cm2 / s
(2)(38.3) [72.3  18.5 ]
1/ 2 1/ 3 1/ 3 2
 Exercise 3.15 (continued)
Analysis: (continued)

(c) The molar density of liquid water = /M = 1/18 = 0.056 mol/cm3.
Therefore, DAB = 1.43 x 10-5 (0.056) = 8.01 x 10-7 mol/s-cm

(d) From the ideal gas law, the molar density of gaseous nitrogen =
P/RT = 2/(82.06)(308) = 7.91 x 10-5 mol/cm3.
Therefore, DAB 0.056 (7.91 x 10-5) = 4.43 x 10-6 mol/s-cm

(e) The diffusivity in the gas is about 3 orders of magnitude more than in the liquid.

(f) The product of diffusivity and molar density in the gas is less than one order of
magnitude more than in the liquid.

(g) For equal mole fraction gradients, diffusion through the liquid phase is comparable to
that in the gas phase.