ISSN:
0006-3592
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Diffusion of oxygen through aqueous solutions is of great importance in biological systems. In this work, three models for the diffusion of oxygen through aqueous salt solutions are compared. One model uses mole fraction as the driving force (Fick's Law) and another uses chemical potential. The third model uses the gradient in oxygen activity as the driving force. This new model was chosen because of the availability of oxygen electrodes which directly measure oxygen activity in aqueous solution. These models have been used to reevaluate the technique of measuring O2 diffusivities. We show that Pick's Law diffusion coefficients do not vary strongly with salt concentration as was erroneously reported in the literature. In addition, we compare the predicted O2 fluxes of the three models over a wide range in O2 concentrations. For oxygen concentrations of biological interest, the three models give identical predictions of the flux.
Additional Material:
6 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bit.260340711
Permalink
