Statistical rate theory of interfacial transport. II. Rate of isothermal bubble evolution in a liquid–gas solution

Abstract

The statistical rate theory approach is used to derive the expression for the rate of gas absorption by a liquid. This process involves two sequential rates−the rate of transport from the gas to the surface and the rate of transport from the surface to the bulk liquid. According to the statistical rate theory, the rate limiting step is the rate of transport from the surface. After deriving the rate expression for the rate limiting step, it is incorporated in an integral equation approach for predicting the rate of evolution of a bubble evolving isothermally in a liquid–gas solution. This approach accounts for the movement of the bubble boundary in the diffusion problem. Statistical rate theory leads to a complete expression for the rate of gas absorption; thus by comparing the predicted rate of bubble evolution with a set of measurements, one can investigate the validity of the statistical rate theory. This comparison is carried out and the predictions are found to be in close agreement with the experiments throughout the experimental period.