ABSTRACT

Diffusion of a gas experiment was conducted with the objective of determining the
diffusion coefficient of ethanol into air. In this experiment, ethanol was placed in a capillary tube
and was allowed to diffuse into non-diffusing air that was passed over the test tube at the
temperature of 40oC. The temperature is kept constant and air stream is passed over the top of the
tube to ensure that the partial pressure of the vapor is transferred from the surface of the liquid to
be air stream by molecular diffusion. The initial reading and every 10 minutes subsequent
reading of the liquid ethanol level are determined, and the experiment is conducted for 60
minutes. The experiment is repeated by changing temperature to 45 oC. A graph of t/L-Lo against LLo is plotted and best fit of straight line and slope of the graph are obtained. The diffusivity of
ethanol at two different temperatures is determined through calculation. The diffusivity of
ethanol at temperature of 40 oC and 45 oC are 2.36

10-7 m2/s and 2.80 10-7 m2/s

respectively. Throughout the experiment, the diffusivity of ethanol is determined to be higher at higher
temperature. This fits the theory where temperature of the substance will affects the diffusion rate.

INTRODUCTION

Mass transfer is the net movement of mass from one location, usually meaning a stream,
phase, fraction or component, to another. Mass transfer occurs in many process and gas and
liquid diffusion are some of the examples.

Gas diffusion occurred when diffusion of vapor

takes place from volatile liquid (organic solvent) into another gas (air). This process used same
concept as mass transfer where one constituent is transported from region of higher
concentration to that of a lower concentration. Gas and liquid diffusion coefficients are particular
importance in considering mass transfer in gas-liquid separation. In this experiment, the
diffusivity of the vapor of a volatile liquid in air can be conveniently determined by
Winklemanns method and ethanol is used as the organic substance.

The Stefen-Winklemanns method has been broadly used for measuring gas diffusion
coefficients. The determination of the diffusion coefficient requires a previous knowledge of
vapor pressure of the solvent, and therefore, the Stefen-Winklemanns method might be used to
obtain vapor pressure data if the diffusivity coefficient is known.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment is to determine the diffusion coefficient of ethanol into
air at different temperature

THEORY

The experiment to determine the diffusivity of gaseous is based on the Winkelmanns

method

. In this method, the volatile liquid allowed to evaporate in vertical glass over the

top of which a stream of vapor-free gas is passed. A water bath is provided for maintaining a
steady temperature so that there is no eddy current in the vertical tube and mass transfer takes
place from the surface by molecular diffusion alone. By monitoring the evaporation rate, which
is the rate of fall of liquid surface, and with the knowledge of concentration gradient, the
diffusivity can be calculated

The rate of mass transfer is given by

NA = D (CA/L)(CT/CBM)
Where
CA = Saturation conc. at interface [kmol m-3 ]
CBM = Logarithmic mean molecular conc. of vapor [kmol m-3 ]
CT = Total molar conc. = CA + CBM [kmol m-3 ]
L = Effective distance of mass transfer [mm]
D = Diffusivity [m2 s -1 ]

Considering the evaporation of the liquid:

Thus (L/M)(dL/dt) = D(CA/L)(CT/CBM)

Integrating and putting L = Lo at t = 0

3

L2-L2o = (2MD/L)(CACT/CBM)t
Lo and L cannot be measured accurately but L-Lo can be measured accurately using the vernier
on the microscope.

(L-Lo)(L-Lo+2Lo) = (2MD/L)(CACT/CBM)t
Or
t/(L-Lo) = (L/2MD)(CBM/ CACT)(L-Lo)+(LCBM/MDCACT)Lo
Where:
M = Molecular weight (kg/kmol)
t = time (s)

If s is the slope of a graph of t/(L-Lo) against (L-Lo) then:

s = (LCBM/2MDCACT)

or

D = (LCBM/2sMCACT)

where:
CT = (1/Kmol Vol)(Ts/Ta)
CB1 = CT
CB2 = (Pa-Pv/Pa)CT
CBM = (CB1-CB2)/ln(CB1/CB2)
CA = (Pv/Pa)CT

APPARATUS

Figure 1.0 The gas diffusion apparatus

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1. Gas Diffusion Apparatus

2. Ethanol
3. Water bath
4. Microscope
5. Capillary tube
6. Syringe
7. Stop watch
PROCEDURE

1. The distillate water was filled into the water bath until 35mm of the capillary tube was
obtained.
2. The capillary tube is then filled with ethanol until the height is approximately 35mm
with use syringe.
3. The air pump tube is filled into the capillary tube until it had fully covered the entire
upper side of the capillary tube then the capillary tube is inserted into the water bath.
4. The vertical height of the microscope was then adjusted until the capillary tube was
visible.

5. If the capillary tube was not visible, the distance from the object lens was adjusted to the
tank until the meniscus of the ethanol inside the capillary tube was clearer and if
necessary the position of the viewing lens in or out the microscope body can be adjusted.
6. When the capillary tube was viewed, the image of the meniscus will be upside down so
that the bottom of the meniscus of ethanol would be at the top of image.
7. When the meniscus of the ethanol has been determined, the sliding vernier scale
should be aligned with a suitable graduation on the fixed scale.
8. The air pump and the water bath heater are turned on.
9. The initial value of the ethanol inside the capillary was observed and recorded.
10. The temperature was set to 40 0C and a steady temperature was obtained.
11. The level of the ethanol inside the capillary was recorded for every 10 minutes. The
experiment was then repeated at 45 oC.

RESULT

40
Level Of Ethanol,

Time

(Min)

(mm)
10.1
10.3
10.5
10.8
11.0
11.2
11.4

0
10
20
30
40
50
60

Liquid Level,(L-L0)

T/(L-L0)

(mm)

(min/mm)

0
0.2
0.4
0.7
0.9
1.1
1.3

0
50
50
42.86
44.44
45.45
46.15

Graph of T/(L-L0) vs (L-L0) for 40

60
50

f(x) = 19.4x + 27.1

R = 0.27

40

T/(L-L0)

30
20
10
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

(L-L0)

45
Level Of Ethanol,

Time

(Min)

(mm)
21.3
21.9
22.2
22.8
23.0
23.2
23.5

0
10
20
30
40
50
60

Liquid Level,(L-L0)

T/(L-L0)

(mm)

(min/mm)

0
0.6
0.9
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.2

0
16.67
22.22
20
23.53
26.32
27.27

Graph of T/(L-L0) vs (L-L0) for 45

30

f(x) = 16.28x + 8.73

R = 0.7

25
20

T/(L-L0)

15
10
5
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

(L-L0)

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Calculation for 40

Liquid level, L-L0

=
=

t/(L-L0)

10.3-10.1
0.2mm

= 10/0.2
= 50min/mm

From slope of the graph, =

19.396 min 60 s 1000 2 mm2

min
1m
mm 2
9

= 1.16 10

s/m2

Total Molar Concentration, CT (kmol/m3)

CT =

||

( 1)

( kmol , vol )
1
273

22.4 273+ 40

= 0.0389 kmol/m3

Log Mean Molecular Concentration vapour,

Cbm

(kmol/m3)

Cb1=Ct
10

Cb1= 0.0389

P aPv
Pa

Cb2 =

Cb2 =

0.0389
( 101.356
101.3 )

Ct

Cb2 = 0.0174 kmol/m3

Cbm =

C b 1C b 2
C b1
ln
C b2

Cbm = 0.0267 kmol/m3

Saturation Concentration at interface, Ca

Ca =

Pv
C
Pa t

( )

Ca= 0.0215 kmol/m3

Diffusitivity, D (m2/s)
- PL = 790 Kg/m3
D=

P L C bm
s ( 2 mw C a Ct )

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D=

790 0.0267
1.16 10 (2 58.08 0.0215 0.0389)
9

D40

= 2.36 10-7 m2/s

D45

= 2.80 10-7 m2/s

DISCUSSIONS

The basic principle of diffusion that occurs in the capillary tube is from high
concentration to low concentration. The objectives of this experiment are to determine the gas
diffusion coefficient of ethanol using the established Winkelmanns method. The diffusion of the
vapour of ethanol (volatile liquid) into another gas can be conveniently studied can by confining
a small sample of the liquid in a narrow vertical tube, and observing its rate of evaporation into a
stream of gas passed across the top of the tube. The surface of ethanol with high concentration
and the air inside the tube has low concentration. This will make the ethanol become vapor when
it is heated with warm water that was boiled at 40 oC and 45oC. The ethanol become vapor and
diffused to the air.

The trend of graph is directly proportional. The equation used to get the slope is y = mx + c and

the value of the slope at 40 C is 19.396

s
m2

while at 45 C the slope is 16.283

diffusivity value at 40oC and 45oC is 1.872 x 107

significance of correlation

m
s

s
m2

. The

and 2.22 x 10-7

m
s

respectively. The

for 40oC and 45oC is 0.2734 and 0.7035 respectively which is

lesser than expected. From the graph, it can be observed that the graph plotted for the
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temperature of 40oC is a little bit steeper than the graph plotted for the temperature of 45 oC.
Other than that, from the graph plotted, the value of slope can be obtained easily and the
calculation of diffusivity of the vapour can be proceeding. The value of diffusivity is affected by
the temperature. The higher the temperature, the diffusivity of the vapour or the diffusion
coefficient of ethanol would increase. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of
high concentration to an area of lower concentration and this is increased with
increasing temperature which means when the temperature increase the diffusion will speeds up
(Faghri et.al, 2010). Thus, if the temperature is higher, then probably it would increase the rate of
diffusion by increasing the kinetic activity of the solution. The molecules of the
solution would be moving more vigorously and so naturally the chances of them
moving through pores in a m e m b r a n e w o u l d b e m u c h b e t t e r ( C u s s l e r , 2 0 0 9 ) .
T h e r e f o r e , t h e m o l e c u l e s s p r e a d f r o m h i g h t o l o w concentration more rapidly.
Partial pressure and concentration give an effect on the rate of diffusion (Roger, 1950). From the
Antoine equation, the correlation between partial pressure and concentration is when the partial
pressure increases, it is easier for the solvent to evaporate due to pressure that affects the
movement of the molecular particles in the solvent (Bengt, 1997). But for the concentration, an
increase in concentration, the diffusion takes a longer time because more particles are there in the
solvent.

The fact is the boiling point of ethanol is 78.37C and if the temperature of the ethanol
is exceeding the boiling point temperature the diffusivity will not be implemented. This is caused
by the characteristics of the ethanol solution which is volatile. An increase in pressure has a
significant effect on the relative volatility of the component in a liquid mixture like the ethanol.
Therefore, the temperature conducted in this experiment must not exceed the boiling point of the
ethanol because it will increase the rate of volatility of ethanol (Cameron, 1999). Thus, it will be
harder to read the level of meniscus on the sliding vernier scale since the solution is volatile
rapidly.

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The value obtain from the result might be different with the actual because there may be some
error occur during the experiment is done. The common error that always occurs is the position
of the eye during taking the volume at the telescope. The eye position should be straight to the
scale and must be parallel to the meniscus. Other than that, the experiment should be repeated at
least three times to get the accurate values and this can reduce the mistake during the experiment
is done.

CONCLUSION

This experiment was performed to determine the diffusivity of the vapour and to study the effect
of temperature on the diffusivity. From the analysed data and calculated results the diffusivity
of the vapour of ethanol at 40 c and 45 c were determined which were 2.36 10-7 m2/s
and 2.80

10-7 m2/s respectively. We can conclude that diffusivity of the ethanol with

higher temperature will have a higher value. Besides that, it has been theoretically proved that
higher temperature cause the molecules of substance to gain higher kinetic energy. The kinetic
energy that it gains makes it moves randomly and freely hence increasing the rate of diffusion.
Finally, the experiment has accomplished us with the study of diffusivity coefficient and
familiarity with the use of laboratory instruments to achieve accurate measurements of data
required for industrial process design.

RECOMMENDATIONS
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Before the ethanol was pumped, make sure there was no air bubble inside the capillary

tube.
Use different capillary tube when start with different temperature.
The travelling microscope that attached to the vernier scale must be tightly installed and

stable.
The level of the travelling microscope also must be paralleled with the capillary tube.
Eye level also must be parallel to the meniscus level.
When adjusting the vernier scale, the position of the travelling microscope should not be

disturbed.
The method of recording the reading from the vernier scale must be correct.
The velocity of the air flow must be constant.

REFERENCE

1. Faghri. A, Zhang. Y, Howell. J, (2010), Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer, USA, page
345.
2. Cussler, E.L, (2009), Diffusion: Mass Transfer in Fluid System, 3 rd Edition, USA, page
200.
3. Bengt, S, (1997) Advanced Computational Methods and Experiments in Heat Transfer
11, WIT Press, pp 174-176.
4. Cameron, T, (1999) Springer Handbook of Experimental Fluid Mechanics, Volume 1,
Springer, pp. 45-47.
5. Roger, A.S, (1950) A Determination of Diffusion Coefficients for Gaseous Systems at
Various Temperatures, University of Wisconsin--Madison, pp. 78-89.

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