Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

6-30-1961

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Chemical Engineering

First Advisor

John W. Axelson

Second Advisor

Jerome J. Salamone

Third Advisor

George C. Keeffe

Abstract

Experiments using glass beads and water were performed to obtain data to relate evaporation rates with the total surface area of a small sample of particles. The object of this work was to explore the possibility of devising a new method of determining surface areas which would be simple, rapid and non-destructive.

One gram samples of glaze beads ranging in diameter from 840 to 150 microns were wet with water and dryed to constant weight under controlled conditions. Residual water was removed by continued heating at a higher temperature. The experimental conditions were deliberately simple in keeping with the purpose of the thesis. Surface area calculations and bulk volume measurements were included to provide additional data.

The data were evaluated by attempting to correlate surface area, bulk volume and surface area/ bulk volume with experimentally determined values for constant evaporation rates, average evaporation rates, adsorbed water and residual water.

Attempts to correlate surface area with evaporation rates proved unsuccessful although a trend was obtained by introducing adsorbed water values. Partial correlation was achieved between surface area and residual water. This is attributed to the approximation of a monomolecular film on the particles. This is very similar to existing adsorption techniques.

No additional experimental work is recommended.

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