DIRECT SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENT AND THEORETICAL MODELING OF THE DIFFUSION OF A SINGLE-SPECIES IN A 2-PHASE UNSTIRRED SYSTEM

The diffusion of 8-hydroxyquinoline from an aqueous phase into an orga nic phase and vice versa has been measured using a static transfer cel l. The total change in concentration in either phase can be accurately predicted by considering one-dimensional diffusion in the plane norma l to the oil/water interface. It was found that any turbulent mixing t hat occurs during the initiation of the experiment dies out in the fir st few minutes. The relevance of this technique to the study of metal ion extraction from an aqueous phase into an organic phase is discusse d. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.