A cellular automata model of a two two-dimensional diffusion in a membrane-enclosed circular area

Date

3-2008

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Alvin Karlo G. Tapia

Abstract

A cellular automata model of a two-dimensional diffusion was developed. This is an alternative solution to Fick's diffusion equation describing transport occurring in a membrane-enclosed release system. The model uses simple rules to reproduce the macroscopic behavior of diffusion. Different parameters were varied in order to investigate the effects they produce to the diffusion process. The parameters considered were concentration of particles inside the core, membrane thickness, membrane permeability and porosity. Their effects on diffusion were related to the ability of the system to control the release of the particles. The study showed that, as the concentration is increased, the two regimes of diffusion become evident. These are the space-controlled regime and concentration-controlled regime. The space-controlled regime of diffusion is magnified in the system by increasing the thickness of the membrane. Changing the type of membrane also shows significant effect to the release time. Increasing the permeability of the membrane decreases the release time of the system. An increase in the membrane porosity resulted in the decrease in release time. However there is a threshold value of porosity where this decrease takes place.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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