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TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS REVISION NO: TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFERS
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL
EXPERIMENT: ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013
HEAT AND MASS TRANSFERS LABORATORY
AMENDMENT
DATE:
LABORATORY REPORT

COURSE CODE BNQ 20204

EXPERIMENT NO. EXPERIMENT 7

EXPERIMENT TITLE LIQUID DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT (OPEN ENDED LAB)

DATE

GROUP NO.

LECTURER/INSTRUCTOR/TUT
OR

DATE OF REPORT
SUBMISSION

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION/DISCIPLINE: /5%

INTRODUCTION: /5%

PROCEDURE: /5%

RESULTS& CALCULATIONS /15%

ANALYSIS /15%
DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS
DISCUSSIONS: /20%
FOR LABORATORY REPORT:
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS /15%

CONCLUSION /10%

SUGGESTIONS& RECOMENDATIONS /5%

REFERENCES: /5%

TOTAL: /100%

EXAMINER COMMENTS: RECEIVED DATE AND STAMP:

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 KOD FACULTY: ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY
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LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS REVISION NO:

ETIKA TRANSFERS
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
PELAJAR
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:
(KEP)
JABATAN TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA

FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN

Saya dengan ini mengaku bahawa saya telah menyediakan laporan ini dengan daya usaha

saya sendiri. Saya juga mengaku tidak menerima atau memberi sebarang bantuan dalam

menyediakan laporan ini dan membuat ikrar ini dengan kepercayaan bahawa apa-apa yang

tersebut di dalamnya adalah benar.

Ketua Nama:

Kumpulan
No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 1 Nama:

No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 2 Nama:

No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 3 Nama:

No. Matriks: 2

(Tandatangan)
 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

1.0 OBJECTIVES
To determine the liquid diffusion coefficient of paracetamol in distilled water.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this experiment students are able to:

 Construct the model of conduction, convection, radiation, diffusion and
mass convection effectively.

3.0 INTRODUCTION
When a concentration gradient exists within a fluid consisting of two or more
components, there is a tendency for each constituent to flow in such a direction as to
reduce the concentration gradient. This is called mass transfer. Mass transfer takes
place in either a gas phase or a liquid phase or in both simultaneously.

When a known concentration of sodium chloride is placed in a diffusion cell and

immersed in distilled water, diffusion takes place. The vertical capillaries of 5 mm
long and 1 mm bore restrict the diffusion to one dimension.
The rate of diffusion is given by:

C (1)
J  D where,
x
J =diffusion flux
across unit area at right angles to the x-direction
D =diffusivity
∂C/∂x =concentration gradient in the x-direction
The –ve sign indicates that flow is from high to low concentration.

The appropriate units shall be:

J [≡] mole/cm2.sec

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TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

C [≡] mole/cm3
x [≡] cm
t [≡] seconds
D [≡] cm2/sec

The concentration at the lower ends chosen and taken to be constant and
the concentration at the top end is effectively zero during the experiment.
In order words, the concentrations inside the sample vessel are assumed
to be constant. Obviously, this assumption will break down, given enough
time.The concentration in a single capillary turns out to be linear:

C M
 The diffusion flux is
x x
given by:

C M
J  D  D
x x
The rate of diffusion
out of a single capillary is:

J  - rateof los esof NaCl A where A is the cross

sectional area of a capillary

The rate of NaCl diffusion out of all N capillaries, therefore

M
J  D   A  N
x 4
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AMENDMENT
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M d 2
J  D    N
x 4
This rate is equal to rate of
changes of NaCl concentration in the vessel, times with its volume

M d 2 CNaCl
J  D    N   V
x 4 T
The concentration of NaCl
in the vessel is related to the vessel conductivity (k) by a proportional
constant:

C NaCl k 1
  Therefore,
t t C M

V dk M  d 2 
  D  N
CM dt x 4 

4Vx dk (2)
D  2
d NMCM dt where,
V =
volume of water in diffusion vessel [liters]
x = length of capillaries [cm]
d = diameter of capillaries [cm]
N = number of capillaries
M = molar concentration of the paracetamol solution [mol/liter]
CM = conductivity change per unit molar concentration change
(dilute solution) [S/mol.liter-1], 4.1 x 104 Error: Reference
source not foundS/M

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 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

dk/dt =
rate of change of conductivity with time (slope of
graph)

4.0 PROCEDURE

1. The apparatus is started up.

2. A tablet of paracetamol is crushed and dissolved in 30ml distilled water.
3. The diffusion cell is filled with dissolved paracetamol solution. The
capillary tubes are ensured to be place before inserting. Excess solution was
wiped off.
4. The cell is then carefully immersed into the distilled water and the cell were
positioned to be above the capillaries about 5mm below the water level.
5. The conductivity meter and magnetic stirrer are switched on.
6. The conductivity reading was recorded 10 minutes after. And at every 5-
minute interval conductivity were recorded.
7. The steps were repeated again for 2 tablets of paracetamol.

5.0 RESULTS & CALCULATIONS

Volume of water, V = 0.02 L

Length of capillaries, x = 0.5 cm

Diameter of capillaries, d = 0.1 cm

Number of capillaries, N = 97

Stirrer speed = 200 RPM

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 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

C1 SOLUTION C2 SOLUTION
TIME
Conductivity, k Conductivity, k
(uS) (uS)
0 2.10 2.10

300 2.57 2.49

600 2.60 2.52

900 2.62 2.54

1200 2.64 2.56

1500 2.65 2.58

1800 2.66 2.59

7.0 ANALYSIS

1. Plot Conductivity against time. Determine the liquid diffusivity of paracetamol solution
from the obtained slope, s.

FOR C1 SOLUTION ( 1 TABLET)

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LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

Figure 1.0 : Conductivity against time for C2 solution

Molarity of the paracetamol used,

Mass of the tablet : 0.5 g

Molar weight of paracetamol : 151.163 g/mol

Mole of paracetamol = 0.5

mole 151.1633

Molarity 
3.308  10 3
 3.308 10
0.02
 0.165M
Liquid diffusivity of paracetamol solution :

X 2  X1

2Y 2 
.57 Y21.1

300  0 3
 1.567 10
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 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

FOR C2 SOLUTION ( 1 TABLET)

Figure 1.0 : Conductivity against time for C2 solution

Molarity of the paracetamol used,

Mass of the tablet : 0.5 g

Molar weight of paracetamol : 151.163 g/mol

Mole of paracetamol = 2  0.5

mole 151.1633
 6.615 10
6.615  10 3
Molarity 
Liquid 0.02
 0.33M

diffusivity of paracetamol solution :

X 2  X1

Y2  Y1
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TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

2.49  2.1

300  0
μS/s  1.3  10 3

2. Comment on the diffusivity values obtained at different paracetamol concentration.

When 1 tablet is used ( 0.165 M), the diffusivity value calculated from the graph Is
1.567×10-3 μS/s which is lower when two tablet is used (0.33M) with diffusivity value
1.3×10-3μS/s . This is because the conductivity is more with time for C1 solution than C2,
hence steeper graph is produced for C1 with high gradient value ( diffusitivity value). Thus,
the higher the concentration of the paracetamol solution the lower the diffusivity value.

8.0 DISCUSIONS

Diffusion is a movement of particles from the area of higher concentration

gradient to the area of lower concentration gradient until it has reaches the
equilibrium. For this experiment, diffusions occur between the particles in
paracetamol and the particles in distilled water.

The graph of conductivity against time for 0.165 M and 0.33 M of

paracetamol solutions showed an increasing trend. This trend explained that the
conductivity increased as the time become longer. The diffusivity for 0.165 M of
paracetamol solution was 1.567 x 10-3 μS/s while for 0.33 M was 1.33 x 10 -3 μS/s.
From the result of this experiment, it was showed that 0.165 M of paracetamol
solution has lower diffusivity values compared to 0.33 M of paracetamol.
Theoretically, the higher the concentration of the solution, the higher the diffusivity.
This is due to the number of collisions increases as the number of molecules

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 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

increases. The concentration gradient

will also increase as the number of the collisions increases. When the concentration
increase, the driving forces increase. Thus, the value of diffusivity will increase. This
theory explained why diffusivity value is higher when the concentration of
paracetamol increase.

Lastly, conductivity is the ability of solution to conduct electricity. Electric

current can flow easily with the higher conductivity. It is also depending on the
presence of ions in the particular solution. Ions are form from the ionic compound
such as NaCl in the paracetamol solution. When the concentration of paracetamol
increase, the number of its molecules will also increase. The number of the ions
presence in the solution will increase as the number of its molecules increase thus it
will increasing both of the conductivity and diffusivity of the solution.

9.0 ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. Diffusion coefficients for protein molecules in blood serum.

*A new technique is described for the measurement of the self-diffusion

coefficients of protein macromolecules in solution. The method makes use of
the phenomenon of Taylor dispersion of a solute introduced into a solvent
flowing in the laminar regime through a tube of circular section. Results are
reported for the self-diffusion coefficient of cholesterol associated with
lipoprotein molecules in dogs' serum at pH 7.4 in the temperature range 18-37
degrees C. The diffusivity of bovine serum albumin in serum has also been
studied as a function of temperature at pH 7.4 and 4.7. In the more basic
solution, measurements of the diffusivity as a function of protein concentration
substantially agree with earlier work. For all the systems studied the diffusivity
varies rapidly with temperature. The pH of the solution, in the case of bovine

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 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

serum albumin, also has a

significant effect on the diffusivity of the macromolecule. The latter observation
is related to the amount of water bound to the protein molecule in solution.

Does diffusion coefficient depend on concentration?

*Diffusion coefficients in solutions are always composition dependent, though

this may be slight in your example due to the high dilution. It is a matter for
experiment given ionic liquid solvents are relatively new.Taking application to
ion exchange process as example the physical significance of concentration-
dependent diffusion coefficients is examined. It is shown that such
concentration dependences cogently follow from typical sorption isotherms. As
an example, NMR images of the progress of isovalent competitive ion exchange
processes in alginate gels are compared with the predictions of diffusion models
assuming Henry or Langmuir sorption isotherms. It is shown that the model on
the basis of the Langmuir isotherm provides a much better correspondence with
the experimental data than the linear absorption model based on the Henry
isotherm. The better correspondence of the Langmuir model is due to the fact
that saturation effects are taken into account in this model, which is based on
the law of mass action.

10.0 CONCLUSION

From the experiments, the liquid diffusion coefficient of paracetamol in

distilled water were determined. When the concentration increase, the driving forces
increase. Thus, the value of diffusivity will increase. This theory explained why
diffusivity value is higher when the concentration of paracetamol increase. Beside
that, when the concentration of paracetamol increase, the number of its molecules will
also increase. The number of the ions presence in the solution will increase as the

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 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE:

number of its molecules increase thus

it will increasing both of the conductivity and diffusivity of the solution.

11.0 SUGGESTION AND RECOMMENDATION

1. Using porous plate because it has been analyzed and shown the effect of an
additional cross transport phenomenon and this will increase the diffusion rate.
2. Using more than one conductivity sensors and placed on various depths of the
solution to obtain various value for accuracy.
3. Ensure the equipment and materials have minimum contact with the surrounding
to obtain better results.

11.0 REFERENCES

Liquid Diffusion Coefficient. . (2009). Retrieved from Lab Manual:

http://www.utar.edu.my/fes/file/UEMK2411%20ChemEng%20Lab%20I%20Manual-
200905-2.pdf

Liquid Liquid Diffusion . (n.d.). Retrieved from Researchgate:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_compute_liquid-
liquid_diffusion_coefficient_by_experiment

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AMENDMENT
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Approved by / Disahkan oleh :

Prepared by / Disahkan oleh:

Signature / Tandatangan :
Signature/Tandatangan:
Name / Nama : DR. NOOR AKHMAZILLAH
Name/Nama: DR. NOR FAIZAH BINTI RAZALI
BINTI MOHD FAUZI
Date/Tarikh :
Date / Tarikh :

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FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
TRANSFERS REVISION NO:
EXPERIMENT: LIQUID
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AMENDMENT
DATE: