A gas mixture is found to contain two diatomic A and B species (A2 and B2), the partial pressures of both of which are 0.1013 MPa (1 atm). This mixture is to be enriched in the partial pressure of the A species by passing both gases through a thin sheet of some metal at an elevated temperature. The resulting enriched mixture is to have a partial pressure of 0.051 MPa (0.5 atm) for gas A and 0.0203 MPa (0.2 atm) for gas B. The concentrations of A and B (CA and CB, in mol/m3 ) are functions of gas partial pressures (pA2 and pB2, in MPa) and absolute temperature according to the following expressions: CA =1.5×10^3 pA 2 exp(− RT20,000J/mol)
CB =2.0×10^3 pB 2 exp(− RT27,000J/mol)
Furthermore, the diffusion coefficients for the diffusion of these gases in the metal are functions of the absolute temperature, as follows:
DA(m2/s)=5.0×10−7exp(−13,000J/molRT )
DB(m2/s)=3.0×10−6exp(−21,000J/molRT )
Is it possible to purify gas A in this manner? If so, specify a temperature at which the process may be carried out, and also the thickness of metal sheet that would be required. If this procedure is not possible, then state the reason(s) why.