DIFFUSION

BASIC TYPES OF DIFFUSION

MOLECULAR DIFFUSION TURBULENT/EDDY DIFFUSION

• natural diffusion (no external force • external force applied
applied)
 MOLECULAR DIFFUSION

EQUIMOLAR COUNTER A DIFFUSING THROUGH

DIFFUSION STAGNANT, NONDIFFUSING B
• equal numbers of molecules of the two • In this case one boundary at the end of
substances are moving in opposite the diffusion path is impermeable to
directions component B, so it cannot pass through.

• For example, the evaporation of organic

solvent into air, gas adsorption into
liquid.
 •  EQUIMOLAR COUNTERDIFFUSION

MOLECULAR DIFFUSION
IN GASES • A DIFFUSING THROUGH STAGNANT,
NONDIFFUSING B
 EQUIMOLAR COUNTERDIFFUSION

Diffusion of Methane Through Helium. A gas of CH4 and He is contained in a

tube at 101.32 kPa pressure and 298 K. At one point the partial pressure of
methane is pA1 = 60.79 kPa, and at a point 0.02 m distance away, pA2 = 20.26 kPa.
If the total pressure is constant throughout the tube, calculate the flux of CH 4
(methane) at steady state for equimolar counterdiffusion.
 GIVEN

• PT = 101.32 kPa • From Table 1: DAB = 0.675×104 m2/s

• PA1 = 60.79 kPa • R = 8314 (m3∙Pa)/(kgmol∙K)

• PA2 = 20.26 kPa

• ∆z = 0.02 m
 REQUIRED

• JCH4
 SOLUTION

•  
 A DIFFUSING THROUGH STAGNANT,
NONDIFFUSING B

A 4-mm diameter tube, 40 cm long, closed at one end and standing vertically on its
close end, is partially filled with a liquid up to 18mm from the open top. A gentle
stream of air is flowing across the top of the tube. The temperature of the liquid
remains constant at 17˚C. Diffusion takes place through the still air in the tube
above the liquid. After 4 hours and 10 minutes, the liquid level in the tube goes
down by 9.55 mm. The vapor pressure of the liquid is 165 mmHg and the
atmospheric pressure is 1 atm. Density of the liquid is 790 kg/m 3. MW=58. The
mass diffusivity of the vapor in air is:
a. 1.91×10-5 m2/s
b. 1.91×10-5 cm2/s
c. 1.75×10-5 m2/s
d. None of these
 GIVEN

• T
  = 17˚C = 290 K air 2
• d = 4 mm, L = 40 cm
18mm
27.5mm
1 9.5mm

• t = 4h & 10mins = 250 mins = 15000 s

 REQUIRED

• DAB
 SOLUTION

•Since
  water level is not constant, take the average

Solve for NA
 SOLUTION

•  

Use this equation and substitute the known values to solve for DAB
 SOLUTION

•  
 •  Diffusion from a SPHERE:

D I F F U S I O N T H RO U G H A
VA RY I N G C RO S S - S E CT I O N A L
AREA • Diffusion through a conduit of nonuniform
cross-sectional area
 DIFFUSION THROUGH A VARYING
CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA

Evaporation of a Naphthalene Sphere. A sphere of naphthalene having a radius

of 2.0 mm is suspended in a large volume of still air at 318 K and 1.01325 × 10 5
Pa (1 atm). The surface temperature of the naphthalene can be assumed to be at
318 K and its vapor pressure at 318 K is 0.555 mm Hg. The DAB of naphthalene in
air at 318 K is 6.92 × 10−6 m2 /s. Calculate the rate of evaporation of naphthalene
from the surface.
 GIVEN

• DAB = 6.92 × 10−6 m2 /s

• T = 318 K
• P = 101325 Pa
• pA1 = (0.555mmHg)(101325Pa/760 mmHg) = 74.0 Pa
• pA2 = 0
• r1 = 0.002 m
• R = 8314 m3 · Pa/kg mol · K
• pB1 = P − pA1 = 101325 − 74.0 = 101251Pa
• pB2 = P − pA2 = 101325 Pa
 REQUIRED

• rate of evaporation of naphthalene from the surface (NA/A)

 SOLUTION

•Use:
 
For PBM:
 SOLUTION

•  
 •  EQUIMOLAR COUNTERDIFFUSION

MOLECULAR DIFFUSION • DIFFUSION OF A THROUGH

IN LIQUIDS NONDIFFUSING B
 DIFFUSION OF A THROUGH
NONDIFFUSING B

Diffusion of Ethanol (A) Through Water (B). An ethanol (A)–water (B)

solution in the form of a stagnant film 2.0 mm thick at 293 K is in contact at one
surface with an organic solvent in which ethanol is soluble and water is insoluble.
Hence, NB = 0. At point 1 the concentration of ethanol is 16.8 wt % and the
solution density is ρ1 = 972.8 kg/m3 . At point 2 the concentration of ethanol is 6.8
wt % and ρ2 = 988.1 kg/m3. The diffusivity of ethanol is 0.740 × 10−9 m2/s.
Calculate the steady-state flux JA.
 GIVEN

DAB= 0.740 × 10−9 m2/s

T = 293K

CA1= 16.8 wt%

ρ1= 972.8 kg/m3
CA2= 6.8 wt%
ρ2= 988.1 kg/m3
JA

2 mm
 REQUIRED

• Calculate the steady-state flux JA.

 SOLUTION

•  Use:
• For mole fractions: (Basis: 100kg solution)

At point 1:
 SOLUTION

•Therefore,
 

At point 2:
 SOLUTION

•  In order to find Cav, solve for the Molecular Weights of both solution.

At point 1:

At point 2:
 SOLUTION

•  For Cav:
 SOLUTION

• For
  xBM:

• We can now solve for JA.

 SOLUTION

•  
 ACTIVITY

Diffusion of A Through Stagnant B in a Liquid. The solute HCl (A) is diffusing

through a thin film of water (B) 2.0 mm thick at 283 K. The concentration of HCl
at point 1 at one boundary of the film is 12.0 wt % HCl (density ρ 1 = 1060.7
kg/m3 ), and at the other boundary at point 2 it is 6.0 wt % HCl (ρ 2 = 1030.3
kg/m3 ). The diffusion coefficient of HCl in water is 2.5 × 10 −9 m2 /s. Assuming
steady state and one boundary impermeable to water, calculate the flux of HCl in
kg mol/s · m2.
 GIVEN

DAB= 2.5 × 10−9 m2/s

T = 283K

CA1= 12 wt%
ρ1= 1060.7 kg/m3
CA2= 6 wt%
ρ2= 1030.3 kg/m3
JA

2 mm
 REQUIRED

• Calculate the steady-state flux JA.

 SOLUTION

•  Use:
• For mole fractions: (Basis: 100kg solution)

At point 1:
 SOLUTION

•Therefore,
 

At point 2:
 SOLUTION

•  In order to find Cav, solve for the Molecular Weights of both solution.

At point 1:

At point 2:
 SOLUTION

•  For Cav:
 SOLUTION

•  For xBM:

• We can now solve for JA.

 SOLUTION

•