https://doi.org/10.1140/epjed/e2003-01-009-1
Gas diffusion in zeolite beds: PFG NMR evidence for different tortuosity factors in the Knudsen and bulk regimes
Universität Leipzig, Abteilung Grenzflächenphysik, Linnéstr. 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
* e-mail: vasenkov@physik.uni-leipzig.de
Received:
1
January
2003
Published online:
5
November
2003
Self-diffusion of ethane in beds of zeolite NaX is studied using Pulsed Field Gradient (PFG) NMR. The ethane diffusivities were measured for displacements, which are orders of magnitude larger than the size of individual crystals. These diffusivities were compared with those, calculated using simple gas kinetic theory. The results of the comparison indicate that for the same bed of NaX crystals the apparent tortuosity factor in the Knudsen regime (i.e. when molecule-solid collisions dominate) is significantly larger than that in the bulk regime (i.e. when molecule-molecule collisions dominate). This finding is attributed to the more pronounced geometrical trapping by the pore structure of the zeolite bed in the Knudsen than in the bulk regime.
PACS: codes. – 47.55.Mh - Flows through porous media / codes. – 81.05.Rm - Porous materials; granular materials
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2003