Mass & Heat Transfer Lab DKK1761

Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering

Experiment 5

DIFFUSION OF SODIUM CHLORIDE IN WATER

Name

Matric No.

Group

Program

Section

Date

SEM II - Session 2016/2017

OBJECTIVE

1. Study the diffusion coefficients.

2. Determination mass transfer rate without convective effects.
Mass & Heat Transfer Lab DKK1761

INTRODUCTION

Diffusion is the transport matter from one point to another point by kinetic energy of random
molecular motion. The most common driving force of diffusion is a concentration gradient of
diffusing fluids. Concentration gradients tend to move the fluid in such a direction as to equalize
concentrations and destroy the gradients. Diffusion also can force by an activity gradient, pressure
gradient, temperature gradient or external force fluid. Diffusion is not restricted to molecular
transfer through stagnant layers of solid or fluid.

Diffusion in liquid is sensitive to the composition change but relatively insensitive to

changes in pressure. Diffusion of high viscosity, syrup liquids and macromolecules is slower. When
solutes molecules diffuse through a solution, solvent molecules must be pushed out of the way. For
this reason, liquid-phase inter diffusion coefficients are inversely proportional to both the viscosity
of the solvent and the effective radius of the solute molecules.

Whenaconcentrationgradientexistswithinafluidconsistingoftwoormorecomponents,
thereisatendencyforeachconstituenttoflowinsuchadirectionastoreducetheconcentration
gradient.Thisisknownasmasstransfer.Ittakesplaceineitheragasoraliquidphaseorinboth
phasessimultaneously.

Rateofdiffusionisgivenby:

(1)
Where J =diffusionfluxacrossunitareatothexdirection(rightside),mol/cm s
2

D =diffusivity,cm /s
2

=concentrationgradientinthexdirection,

Thenegativesignindicatesthattheflowisfromhightolowconcentration.
ByexpandingEquation(1)usingrespectivetermsconstitutiverelations,weget

(2)
Rearranginggives

(3)
whereV=volumeofwaterindiffusionvessel,L
Mass & Heat Transfer Lab DKK1761

x=lengthofcapillaries,cm
d=capillariesdiameter,cm
N=numberofcapillaries
M=molarconcentrationofNaClsolution,mol/L
CM=conductivitychangeperunitmolarconcentrationchange,S/mol/L1

=rateofconductivitychangeovertime

Theslopeobtainedfromtheplotofconductivityasfunctionoftimecanbeusedtocalculatethe
diffusivity.

EQUIPMENT/APPARATUS/MATERIAL

LS32136BLiquiddiffusionapparatus

Figure1:LiquidDiffusionCoefficientApparatus

This liquid diffusion coefficient apparatus is used to determine the diffusivity of NaCl
solutionindistilledwater.AknownconcentrationofNaClsolutionisplacedinadiffusioncell
immersedindistilledwater.Amagneticstirrerandaconductivitymeterareprovidedtomonitorthe
progressofdiffusionovertime.Aplotofconductivityagainsttimewillallowforthedetermination
oftheliquiddiffusivity.Theconcentrationatthechosenlowerendsistakentobeconstantwhile
theconcentrationattopendiseffectivelyzeroduringexperiment.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
Mass & Heat Transfer Lab DKK1761

1. Prepare the solution of 3M NaCl. [Prepare the standard curve for 0.01,
0.02, 0.04, 0.005 M of NaCl; Concentration vs. Conductivity]
2. Determine the number of capillaries (holes) of the PVC round plate in the
J-tube. (the diameter is 2 mm while the height is 10.0mm).
3. Clamp the higher end of the J-tube to the J-tube clamper. Be careful when
clamping the J-tube.
4. Pour NaCl solution to the J-tube until the liquid just reaches the tops of
the capillaries. Kindly wipe away the excess solution with a soft tissue.
5. Insert the connectivity probe to the liquid vessel. Ensure the cable is
connected to the digital conductivity meter.
6. Pour 1500 mL of deionised water into the test vessel.
7. Switch ON the magnetic stirrer.
8. Switch ON the conductivity meter. Ensure there is reading shown in the
meter.
9. Place the J-tube into the test vessel. Care must be taken in this procedure.
No solution should be dropped to deionised water.
10. Fill the test vessel with small amount of water until the capillary tops are
submerged approximately 5 mm below the surface of the water. Record the amount of water added to
test vessel.
11. At the same time, when the capillary tops are submerged, start the
stopwatch.
12. For every 5 minutes, take the conductivity value for a time period of 40
minutes.
13. Once the experiment done, kindly remove all the glassware and rinse with
deionised water.

RESULT

Table1:Standardcurvedataforsodiumchloride
NaClconcentration(M) Conductivity
0.00
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
Mass & Heat Transfer Lab DKK1761

Table2:ExperimentalData

Time(min) Conductivity

DISCUSSIONS

Discussallyourresults.Thequestionsbelowonlyserveasaguideline.Yourdiscussionshouldnot
onlylimittothesequestions.

1. Plotagraphofconductivityversustime.DeterminetheliquiddiffusivityofNaCl
solutionfromtheobtainedslope.
2. Comparetheexperimentalvaluewiththeoreticalvalue(canbefromtheliterature
revieworcalculationusingliquiddiffusionequation,e.g:WilkeChangetc.).