Diffusion rates in porous catalysts

Abstract

Abstract Rates of diffusion of helium, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide through alumina pellets were measured at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The cylindrical pellets, ¾ in. diameter and ⅜ in. in length, were prepared from α‐alumina particles with a mean pore radius of 65 Å. Surface area and pore volume data indicated that the corresponding mean pore radius of the micro and macropores in the whole pellet was 96 Å. The results showed that Knudsen type of diffusion was the controlling transport process despite the large fraction of void volume in the macropores. Carbon dioxide diffused more rapidly than expected, suggesting the possibility of migration of physically adsorbed molecules along the pore walls. The diffusion rates were about 16% higher than predicted, with a mean pore radius (Wheeler model) based upon the void volume of both micro and macropores used. However there is no logical basis for using this mean pore radius for a pellet having widely separated, micro and macropore size distributions.