Measurement of the diffusion coefficient of ethanol in agarose gel beads: A reproducibility study

Summary The diffusion coefficient of ethanol in a 4 w/w% agarose gel at 25°C was measured, using the methods of unsteady-state diffusion into, and out of, gel beads dispersed in a solution of finite volume. The results (8.0 – 9.5×10^–6 cm²/s) agreed well with available theory. The results of method out were more reproducible than method in, but the standard deviation was in no case lower than 3.3%.