An eigenvalue method for determination of multicomponent diffusion coefficients. Application to NaOH + NaCl + H2O mixtures

A general method for the determination of multicomponent diffusion coefficients is developed using the algebraic technique of matrix diagonalization. When linear combinations of measurements from several multicomponent diffusion experiments performed with different initial concentration gradients (but with the same final composition) are analyzed as simple binary data, particular combinations may be found that transform the multicomponent diffusion coefficient matrix D to diagonal form and thus yield time-invariant, pseudo-binary diffusion coefficients: the eigenvalues of D. Since the matrix that diagonalizes D is given by the coefficients used to form the linear combinations, D is easily recovered by the inverse transformation. The advantages of the eigenvalue method are briefly discussed. For testing purposes, ternary diffusion coefficients are determined from conductance measurements for dilute aqueous NaOH + NaCl mixtures. Diffusion of NaOH in aqueous NaCl is significantly more rapid than in pure water, and large coupled flows of NaCl are observed. The results are in close agreement with behavior predicted by Onsager–Fuoss theory.