Empirical mathematical model for absorption and evaporation phenomena of organic solvent in electrically-sensitive wood

초록

Wood an anisotropic and hygroscopic material is often exposed to organic solvents as well as moisture accompanying absorption and evaporation phenomena. Although different dynamics are expected at the uptake and evaporation of solvents mathematically with respect to time exploring an empirical mathematical model to describe the absorption and evaporation of organic solvents simultaneously within wood remains unexplored relatively. This study proposes a mathematical model to explain empirically observed absorption and evaporation behaviors including a novel method for qualitative analysis. To measure solvent uptake and evaporation we employed electrical current as an indicator making the wood electrically conductive through the incorporation of carbon nanotubes. The electric signals produced during the absorption and evaporation of acetone ethanol isopropyl alcohol water benzene and toluene were measured in electrically sensitive wood. As a result our mathematical model approximated absorption and evaporation data with few deviations in all cases leading to an adjusted R2 greater than 0.95. Furthermore the novel qualitative analysis the second derivative versus the first derivative of electrical current with respect to time revealed a subtle change in the absorption dynamics that were not observable in the time domain. Especially it has been revealed that polar and non-polar organic solvents with a low boiling point exhibited a large closed curve in the derivative plot compared with other solvents. By introducing a comprehensive mathematical model and utilizing electrical current-based signals this study opens doors to improved insights into how organic solvents interact with wood. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024.

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