Chapter Four: Diffusion and Dissolution

Solomon G.A , B.Pharm , MSc

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THE PROCESS OF DISSOLUTION

• The process of dissolution may be

considered to involve the relocation of a
solute molecule from an environment

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composed of two consecutive stages.
1. interfacial reaction that results in the
liberation of solute molecules from the
solid phase. Its concentration will be Cs,
a saturated solution.
2. the solute molecules must migrate
through the boundary layers surrounding
the crystal to the bulk of the solution, at
which time its concentration will be C
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The rate of diffusion will obey
Pick's law of diffusion

the rate of change in concentration of

dissolved material with time is directly
proportional to the concentration difference
between the two sides of the diffusion layer

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Noyes-Whitney equation
(dm/dt) is directly proportional to
• the area available for molecular or ionic
migration (A),
• the concentration difference (AC) across
the boundary layer,
inversely proportional to
• the thickness of the boundary layer (h).

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 Noyes-Whitney equation

Where, the constant k1 is known as the diffusion coefficient, D, and has the
units of m2/s. 7
Noyes-Whitney equation
• If the solute is removed from the
dissolution medium by some process at a
faster rate than it passes into solution,
then the term (Cs - C) in Eqn 2.7 may be
approximated to Cs.
• if the volume of the dissolution medium is
so large that C is not allowed to exceed
10% of the value of Cs, then the same
approximation may be made
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'sink' conditions
• these circumstances dissolution is said to
occur under 'sink' conditions, and Eqn 2.7
may be simplified to

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