DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.

A TECHNICAL REPORT ON

DIFFUSION OF A GAS

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

(CHE 302)
TITLE PAGE
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: DIFFUSION OF A GAS

AIM OF EXPERIMENT:

NAME: TAKELE MARY-PAULETTE AVWAROSUO

MAT. NUMBER: ENG1703918

SERIAL NUMBER: 05

GROUP NUMBER: A1

LEVEL: 300 LEVEL

COURSE CODE: ELA302

EXPERIMENT NUMBER: EXPERIMENT 1

NAME OF INSTRUCTORS: ENGR. FREDRICK OSHOMOGHO AND

ENGR. MRS EVA OGBOMO

DATE: 11/05/2021

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1: GASEOUS DIFFUSION APPARATUS

FIGURE 2: STOPWATCH

FIGURE 3: A GRAPH OF T/ (L – LO) AGAINST (L – LO)

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1: CALCULATED VALUES

ii
TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE …….……………………………………………………….i

LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………………....ii

LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………….. ii

TABLE OF CONTENT ………………………………………………….iii

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………..…...1

INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………..2

THEORY ………………………………………………………………….3

DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS ……………………........................... 6

PROCEDURE ………………………………………….………………..…8

RESULTS ……………………………………………….……………….…9

DISCUSSION ……………………………………………………………...12

CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………….…13

RECOMMENDATION …………………………………………………….14

REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………..15

APPENDIX …………………………………………………………………..16

iii
ABSTRACT

The diffusion of a gas experiment was carried out with the aim of determining the
diffusion coefficient of a gas by evaporation from a liquid surface making use of
Winkelmann’s method. The experiment was done using acetone which is a volatile
liquid. A T-shaped capillary tube was partially filled with acetone and placed in a
water bath that was maintained at a constant temperature of 40℃. An air pump
was connected to the capillary tube to allow the acetone diffuse to the air and
prevent a build-up of eddy current. The travelling microscope was used to measure
the liquid level at intervals of 30 minutes for 2 hours. A graph of T/ (L – L O)
against (L – LO) was plotted and the value of the slope was 0.8758 (Ks/mm 2)
while the diffusivity value was 18.226 mm2/s . The diffusivity rate can be
influenced by change in the temperature, partial pressure and concentration.

1
INTRODUCTION

Diffusion or molecular diffusion is the net movement of atoms, ions, molecules or

energy from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
(i.e. there is a concentration gradient of the diffusing component). The rate of
diffusion depends on the temperature, density, concentration, viscosity of the fluid,
and the size or mass of the particles.

The diffusivity of the vapor of a volatile liquid in this case Acetone was
determined by Winkelmann’s method in which the acetone was allowed to
evaporate in a T-shaped capillary tube with an air stream passed over the top of the
tube to prevent build-up of pressure at the top of the tube. The water bath was
maintained at a steady temperature of 40℃ (ambient temperature) to avoid eddy
diffusion which will result in inconsistent values and also to ensure that the mass
transfer takes place from the surface by molecular diffusion alone.

The rate of evaporation was measured by the drop in the liquid level in the
capillary tube which was determined by the travelling microscope at intervals of 30
minutes for 2 hours. With the knowledge of concentration gradient, the diffusivity
of acetone was calculated.

This experiment finds application in diffusion of gasoline in air which has both
health and environmental effects.

2
THEORY

As explained above, molecular diffusion is the random motion of molecules

through different fluids which then forms an homogeneous mixture. It occurs from
a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration and is affected
by temperature, pressure, and molecular weight. Diffusion occurs faster at high
temperature, low pressure and low molar mass.

The diffusion coefficient is an important variable in many diffusion equations that

describes how quickly one material can diffuse through another material. Gas and
liquid diffusion coefficients are of importance in considering mass transfer.

Winkelmann’s method was used to determine the diffusivity of a volatile liquid

(acetone) in air whereby the acetone is put in a T-shaped capillary tube which is
maintained at constant temperature of 40℃ where mass transfer takes place. It
happens at the surface by molecular diffusion. From the level of liquid dropped
and with a knowledge of this concentration gradient, the diffusivity can be
obtained.

The relationship between the molar flux or molar transfer rate (NA), the partial
pressure gradient and the diffusion coefficient, D is derived based on the
following;

NA = D(CA/L)(CT/CBM)

Where; D = Diffusivity (m2/s)

CA = Saturation concentration at the interface (kmol/m3)

L = Effective distance of mass transfer

CBM = Logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapor (kmol/m3)

3
CT = Total molar concentration = CA + CBM (kmol/m3)

dL
Considering the evaporation of the liquid: NA = (ρL/M) dT

Where ρL is the density of the liquid (kg / m3

dL
Thus (ρL/M) dT = D(CA/L)(CT/CBM)

Integrating and putting L = LO at t = 0

L2 – L2O = (2MD/ρL)(CACT/CBM)t

Note LO and L cannot be measured accurately using the vernier on the microscope

(L – LO + 2LO) = (2MD/ρL)(CACT/CBM)t

Or

t/(L – LO) = (ρL/2MD)( CBM/ CACT)(L – LO) + (ρLCBM)/(MDCACT)LO

Where;

M = molecular weight (kg/mol)

T = time (s)

S = slope of the graph of T/ (L – LO) against (L – Lo)

S = (ρLCBM)/(MDCACT)

Or D = (ρLCBM)/(2SMCACT)

The saturation concentration at the interface can be obtained from the relationship
below.

CT = (1/kmol vol) (Tabs/Ta) (kmol volume = 22.414 m3/kmol)

4
 CB1 = CT

CB2 = ((Pa – Pv)/Pa) CT

CBM = (CB1 – CB2)/ ln(CB1/CB2)

CA = (Pv/Pa)CT

This experiment finds application in the diffusion of gasoline in air which has
effect on both health and the environment while the concept of diffusion as a
whole is applied in our everyday lives when we spray perfumes, when air diffuses
from our lungs to the other parts of body and so on.

5
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS

1. Gaseous diffusion apparatus: It was used to measure the diffusivity of a

volatile liquid (acetone) at a controlled temperature. It consists of a water
bath tank, capillary tube, air pump, travelling microscope and the Vernier
scale.
 The water bath was used to store the water which was heated and
maintained at a constant temperature.
 The heater switch was used to regulate and maintain the temperature
of the water bath.
 The capillary tube was used to store the volatile liquid (acetone).
 The air pump was used to pass a stream of air through the capillary
tube to prevent a build-up of pressure at the top of the tube.
 The travelling microscope was used to check and measure the liquid
level.
 The Vernier and main scale were also used to measure the liquid
level.

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 T-shaped capillary tube
Main scale

Vernier
scale Air pump switch

Travelling
microscope Heater switch

Water bath

FIGURE 1: GASEOUS DIFFUSION APPARATUS

2. Stopwatch: It is a handheld time piece used to take measurement of

how long the experiment is to be carried out

FIGURE 2: STOPWATCH

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Other materials used during the experiment include:

1. Acetone: The volatile liquid used to carryout the experiment.

2. Water can: It was used to collect water which was poured into the water
bath.

PROCEDURE

1. The capillary tube was partially filled with acetone to about half the height
of the tube and the measurement was taken as LO.
2. The water bath was filled with water and heated to ambient temperature
(40℃).
3. The tube from the air pump was connected to the capillary tube to allow
flow of a stream of air and placed in the water bath.
4. The acetone level reduced to a new length L1 after 30 minutes and was
measured.
5. The other values of L2, L3 and L4 were measured at 60, 90 and 120 minutes
respectively.

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RESULT

Time from Liquid level (L – Lo) T/ (L – LO)

commencement of (mm) Ks/mm
experiment (Ks)
0 0 0
1.8 0.50 3.60
3.6 1.30 2.77
5.4 1.90 2.84
7.2 2.30 3.13
TABLE 1: CALCULATED VALUES

CALCULATION

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Converting time from minutes (mins) to kilosecond (Ks)

30× 60
30mins = 1000 Ks

=1.8 Ks

Liquid level (L – Lo)

(36.9 – 36.4) mm = 0.5 mm

Time/Liquid level

1.8
0.5
= 3.6 Ks/mm

A graph of T/ (L – LO) against (L – Lo)

4
3.5
f(x)==0.35
R² 0.88 x + 1.42
3
2.5
T/ (L – LO)

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
(L – Lo)
FIGURE 3: A GRAPH
OF T/ (L – LO)
AGAINST (L – LO)

From the graph plotted;

The equation of a straight line, y = mx + c is given as y = 0.8758x +1.417

Where; c = intercept and m = gradient/slope of the graph

Slope (S) = 0.8758 Ks/mm2 =8.758× 108 S /m2

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Molecular weight, M (kg/mol)

Molecular weight of Acetone = 58.08 kg/mol

1
Total molar concentration CT (kmol/m3) = ( kmol vol ) ( Tabs
T
)

1 273
CT = ( 22.4 ) ( 273+40 ) = 0.0389 kmol/m3

Logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapor CBM (kmol/m3)

CB1 = CT = 0.0389 kmol/m3

Pa−Pv
CB2 = ( Pa ) CT = ( 101.3−56
101.3
) × 0.0389

= 0.0174 kmol/m3

CB1 – CB 2 0.0389 – 0.0174

CBM = ( ln( B 1 ) ) = ( ln( 0.0389 ) )
B2 0.0174

CBM = 0.0267 kmol/m3

Saturation concentration at interface, CA

Pv 56
CA = ( Pa ) CT = ( 101.3 ) 0.0389

CA = 0.0215 kmol/m3

Diffusivity, D (mm2/s)

Pv ×Cbm 56 ×0.0267
D = ( S × 2 M ×Ca ×Ct ) = ( 8.758× 10 ×2(56)×0.0215 ×0.0389 )
8

D =1.8226 ×10−8 m 2/s

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DISCUSSION

Diffusion is the movement of molecules because of a concentration gradient. The

acetone had a higher concentration than air and therefore diffused into the air. The
effect of temperature was to increase the movement of the molecules and the
evaporation process which in turn increased the rate at which the diffusion
occurred.

From the graph plotted it was observed that there is a direct rate of proportion
between T/ (L – LO) and (L – LO). The equation used to get the slope is y = mx + c
and the value of the slope was 0.8758 (Ks/mm 2) while the diffusivity value was
calculated to be1.8226 ×10−8 m 2 /s . These values may differ from other similar
experiment as a result of inconsistency in temperature and partial pressure build-up
at the top of the tube which can be avoided by ensuring temperature remains
constant and steady air flow from the air pump.

The rate of diffusion can be affected by changes in the partial pressure,

temperature and concentration. An increase in the partial pressure increases the

12
rate of diffusion by quickening the evaporation process. For temperature, an
increase leads to faster diffusion rate which produces some eddy currents while an
increase in concentration reduces the diffusion rate as more particles are available
for diffusion.

CONCLUSION

Diffusion is a very important and finds application in the industries and in our
everyday lives. From the experiment and calculations carried out making use of
Winkelmann’s method, the diffusion coefficient (diffusivity) of acetone was
obtained as 18.226 mm2/s at a constant temperature of 40℃.

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RECOMMENDATION

I recommend that for future purpose, the following can be done:

 Another volatile liquid with a low boiling point e.g. petroleum ether can be
used in place of acetone.
 The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method can be used
instead of Winkelmann’s method to determine the concentration and mass
transfer rate.
 Distilled water should be used to fill the water bath.
 More sophisticated apparatus can also be used.

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REFERENCES

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology,

Lahore, Mass Transfer Lab Report.

Wikipedia. Diffusion of a gas.

Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas.

Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, vol. 1, No. 1, 2013.

Chemical Engineering Laboratory Manual, Semester June-October 2013.

Leonard B., Kinetic Theory of Gases, Mineola, New York: Dover Publications Inc.
E. L. Cussler, Diffusion: Mass Transfer in Fluid Systems, 2nd ed., Cambridge,
United Kingdom: The Press Syndicate Of University Of Cambridge.
Landolt-Bornstein, Gases in Gases, Liquids and Their Mixtures, New York:
Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

15
APPENDIX

D = Diffusivity

CA = Saturation concentration at the interface

L = Effective distance of mass transfer

CBM = Logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapor

CT = Total molar concentration

M = molecular weight

T = time

S = slope of the graph of T/ (L – LO) against (L – Lo)

Pabs = absolute pressure

Pv = vapor pressure

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ΡL = density of fluid

CACULATION

Converting time from minutes (mins) to kilosecond (Ks)

30× 60
30mins = 1000 Ks

=1.80 Ks

60× 60
60mins = 1000 Ks

=3.60 Ks

90 ×60
90mins = 1000 Ks

=5.40 Ks

120× 60
120mins = 1000 Ks

=7.20 Ks

Liquid level (L – Lo)

(36.90 – 36.40) mm = 0.50 mm

(37.70 – 36.40) mm = 1.30 mm

(38.30 – 36.40) mm = 1.90 mm

(38.70 – 36.40) mm = 2.30 mm

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Time/Liquid level

1.80
0.50
= 3.60 Ks/mm

3.60
1.30
= 2.77 Ks/mm

5.40
1.90
= 2.84 Ks/mm

7.20
2.30
= 3.13 Ks/mm

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