MOLECULAR DIFFUSION OF VOLATILE-LIQUID VAPORS INTO AIR

Diffusion coefficients of vapors diffused into stagnant air were determined at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Experimental data on diffusion coefficients were obtained from the steady-state open-tube evaporation method modified for this study. No fresh air is passed over the top end of a diffusion tube, and amounts of volatile liquids evaporated in the diffusion tube are measured with a balance rather than a change of the liquid level in a diffusion tube. Experimental molecular diffusion coefficients are obtained by applying experimental data of mass losses of volatile liquidsversusevaporation durations to a diffusion equation developed suitable for the novel open-tube evaporation method. Three main experimental errors of the novel open-tube evaporation method are described in detail. Predicted diffusion coefficients are calculated with the Wilke-Lee method and compared with experimental values obtained from this diffusion study.