Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.

41-50, 2002

41

MASS DIFFUSION INSIDE PROLATE SPHERICAL SOLIDS:

AN ANALYTICAL SOLUTION

Vital Arajo Barbosa de Oliveira1, Antonio Gilson Barbosa de Lima2

ABSTRACT
The analytical solution of the transient mass diffusion equation in prolate spherical coordinates by
considering constant transport coefficient and convective boundary conditions is presented. The
solution is obtained by the variables separation method. The formal solution is applied to predict the
average moisture content and moisture content distribution of a prolate spherical solid (ellipsoid of
revolution) during the drying process. Analytical results are compared with numerical results that are
reported in the literature and good agreement was obtained.
Keywords: drying, formal solution, mass, diffusion, elliptical geometry

DIFUSO DE MASSA NO INTERIOR DE SLIDOS ESFEROIDAIS PROLATOS: UMA

SOLUO ANALTICA

RESUMO

A soluo analtica da equao de difuso de massa em coordenadas esferoidais prolata considerando

coeficiente de difuso constante e condio de contorno convectiva apresentada. A soluo obtida
usando o mtodo da separao de variveis. A metodologia aplicada para predizer o teor de umidade
mdio e a distribuio do teor de umidade, de um slido esferoidal prolato (elipside de revoluo),
durante o processo de secagem. Resultados analticos so comparados com resultados numricos
reportados na literatura e uma boa concordncia foi obtida.
Palavras-chave: secagem, soluo exata, massa, difuso, geometria elptica

INTRODUCTION
The formal solution of the diffusion
equation has been obtained from various boundary
conditions with constant or variable diffusion
coefficient, in homogeneous or heterogeneous and
isotropic or anysotropic bodies, and in steady or
unsteady cases. The partial differential equation for
non steady-state mass diffusion has been solved to
mass transfer in bodies with single geometry, like

plates, cylinders and spheres (Luikov, 1968;

Skelland, 1974 and Crank, 1992). Normintons and
Blackwells (1964), Haji-Sheikhs & Sparrow
(1966), Alassars (1999) and Limass et al. (1999)
works can be cited, for example, to complex
geometry and constant boundary conditions.
Norminton & Blackwell (1964) present an
analytical solution to predict the heat flow in the
half-space around of an isothermal thin circular
disk.

_________________________
1. Mestre em Engenharia Mecnica, Departamento de Engenharia Mecnica, CCT, Universidade Federal da Paraba (UFPB), CEP 58109-970, Cx.
Postal 10069, Campina Grande-PB, Brasil. Fone (083) 310-1317
2. Professor Doutor do Departamento de Engenharia Mecnica, CCT, Universidade Federal da Paraba (UFPB), CEP 58109-970, Cx. Postal 10069,
Campina Grande-PB, Brasil. Fone (083) 310-1317, e-mail: gilson@dem.ufpb.br

42
Haji-Sheikh & Sparrow (1966) gave an
analytical solution to the heat transfer equation in a
prolate spheroid body with constant temperature at
the surface, using an elliptical coordinate system in
two-dimensional cases, but the results of the
temperature in the center and focal point are given
alone.
Lima et al. (1999), presented an analytical
solution to predict the mass transfer inside a
prolate spheroid. They considered constant
properties and equilibrium boundary conditions at
the solid surface. As application, results of the
moisture content distribution inside of solid as well
as of the average moisture content for an aspect
ratio is presented.
The objective of this work is to develop an
analytical solution to describe the moisture
transport in a continuous medium, by utilizing the
prolate spheroid coordinate system in twodimensional cases, considering convective
boundary conditions at the surface of the solid.

MATHEMATICAL MODEL

This mass diffusion equation in the short

form is given by:

M
t

D M

(1)

L2

L
L1
x

Figure 1- Characteristics of a prolate spherical

solid
Defining =cosh , =cos and = cos ,
the metrics coefficient and the Laplacian to the
new coordinate system can be obtained using the
mathematical relations which are given by
Abramowitz & Stegun (1972). Utilizing the
metrics coefficients, the variables , and and
the differentiations rules, the mass diffusion
equation can be written:

M
t

1
2

y= L sinh

sin sin

L
2

11

1D

(3)

For a situation with symmetry around the z

axis, it is:

(2a-c)

1
L2

1
L2

where L is the focal length equal to (L22-L12)1/2. An

ellipsoid of revolution scheme is shown in Figure
1.

M
t

z= L cosh cos

1
2

x= L sinh sin cos

where D is the diffusion coefficient, M is the

moisture content and t is the time.
Depending on the geometrical form of the
body, a coordinate system, adequate to describe the
domain in study, must be selected. In the specific
case of ellipsoid of revolution, the adequate one is
the prolate spherical system. The relations between
the cartesian (x, y, z) and the prolate spherical ( ,
, ) co-ordinate systems are given by Haji-Sheikh
& Sparrow (1966):

2
2

1D
M

(4)

According to Figure 2, the = o (constant),

>1
is
an elongated ellipsoid of revolution with
o
bigger axis of length L and smaller length axis
L( 2-1)1/2. The surfaces constants are a prolate
spheroids confocal family and they have their

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

43
common center at the origin. The degenerate
surface =1 is the curve that links the center (z=0)
to the focal point (z=L). The surface = o
(constant), o<1, is an asymptotic cone whose two
sheets hyperboloid of revolution generating by line
passes through the origin and it is inclined at the
angle =cos-1 to the z-axis. The degenerate
surface =1 is part of the axis z>L.
The initial and boundary conditions of
equation (4) are:
M( , ,0)=Mo = constant

D
L

hm M

f,

,t

Me

where f=L2/L at the surface of the solid, hm is the

mass transfer coefficient and Me is the equilibrium
moisture content.
Using the separation of variables solution
method we can write M( , ,t)= ( , ) (t). The
solution of the equation (4) is then, (Haji-Sheikh
and Sparrow, 1966):

1
2

(6)

(7)

c2
L2

(8)

d
d

d
d

d
d

b c2

d
d

b c2

(9)

(10)

In Equations (9) and (10), b is the separation

constant or eigenvalues. These two equations are
exactly in the same form, as a function of ,
varies between 0 and the singular point +1, while
as a function of , varies between the singular
point +1 and L2/L. The solution of the angular
function ( ) is expressed in terms of a Legendre
function series of the first kind (Pn), while the
radial function ( ) is obtained from a spherical
Bessel functions series of the first kind of order n
(jn). The solution of the Equations (9) and (10) are
given by:

where c is constant.
Assuming that the diffusion coefficient is
constant and applying the Equation (6) to Equation
(4), we have:

c2
L2

Assuming that ( , )= ( ). ( ), putting it

into Equation (8), and separating the variables, two
ordinary differential equation are obtained:

(5b)

M= ( , )exp(-c2Dt/L2)

(5a)

which can be written in a short form as follows:

1
2

z
1

constant
1
constant

1
0
Rotation axis
to angle

Figure 2 Prolate spherical coordinate system

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

44
1
m ( c, )

d n ,m

n 0

n m
2

given by the successive approximations method, as

follows:

. d n ,m j n c

n 0

bn

m ( c,

d n , m (c). Pn ( )

dr

2,m

bn d r ,m

dr

66n 5

2,m

(12)

252n 6

165n 4

75n5

2n 1 n 2 n
24 c

5 n4

2n 3 7 n
26 c 2

r 2 r 1 c2
;
2r 5 2r 3

527 2n 1

962n 3 1278n 2
210 c 3

1321n

5885n 4 10510n3 18478n 2 13349n

212 c 4

where:
r

2n
22

(11a-b)

n 0

2n 2

2n 1 c

61529 2n 1

1043961 2n 1
2 20 c 5

2241599 2n 1

453

4425
Oc

(16)
-6

where O (c ) represents the error order.

2r r 1 1 c
2r 1 2r 3

r r 1 ;

(13a-c)

r r 1 c2
2r 3 2r 1

with r=0, 2, 4... .

The bn values are given
transcendental equations as follows:

by

the

U (bn) = U1(bn) + U2(bn) = 0

A convergent series for dn,m can be obtained

to a discrete set of values of the eigenvalues bn.
There are two sets of finite solutions, one for even
values of n, the other for odd values. The lowest
value of bn corresponds to n=0, the next to n=2,
(Morse & Feshbach, 1953), so, the set that
corresponds to even value of n was used in this
work. The values of the coefficients dn,m are
different, depending on the normalization adopted
scheme. The utilized criterion by the authors is
presented below:

(14)

with:

U1 b n

bn

n 2

n 2

bn

bn

n 4

...

1 2 r!
d r ,m
r
0 r r
2
!
!
2 2

1 2 n!
n n
2n
!
!
2 2

(17)

for r=0,2,... and n=0,2,... .

(15a)
n 2

U2 b n
n 2

n 4

bn

bn

n 4

...
(15b)

and
n2 n 1 2 c4
n

2n 1

nn 1

2n 1 2n 3
c2
1
2

1
2n 1 2n 3

; n

The technique utilized in the Equation (14)

to determine the bn coefficients is called continued
fraction technique (Stratton et al., 1941; Stratton et
al., 1956). This technique has been used to
determine the eigenvalues to c 8.0. When c 10.0,
the eigenvalues are obtained through an asymptotic
expansion. The asymptotic development of bn is

The Equation (17) together with the

Equations (16) or (12), allows the complete
determination of the coefficients dn,m. The index n
is into all the cases 0. We have Pn( )=0 For n<0
indicating that the series really begin at n=0.
The condition that restricts the values of the
bn in the differential equations is reflected in
Equation (12) as a requirement that the ratio of the
coefficients dn,m/dn-2,m 0, when n
(Stratton et
al.,1956). Observing that the coefficients c, b and
d, they must be obtained and satisfy the Equation
(5b) at the surface of the prolate spherical
( =L2/L). This condition is given by:

2
1
1
f
Bi 1 2

m
f

L2 / L

(18)

With the determined dn,m coefficients, the

formal solution of the problem is given by:

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

45
L2
L
0 1
1

, ,t

Me

Amk

m 0, 2 k 1

Dt
L2

2
cmk

cmk ,

cmk ,

Me

A mk

c mk ,

c pk ,

0 1

c mk ,

L2

1
m 0, 2 k 1

Amk

cmk ,

c pk ,

0 1

c pk ,

Mo

Me d d

c pk ,

cmk , d d

(21)

where the integration and the sum operations were

exchanged.
Considering that the integration in Equation
(20) can be made term by term, and the
orthogonality of the functions, the unique term in
the right side that supply an integral thats different
from zero, is the term with m=p. For m=p, the
result is:
1

A mk

L2

c mk ,

0 1
1

L2

0 1

c mk ,

c mk ,

c mk ,

2
2

Mo
2

Me d d
2

d d

(22)
where the denominator is the norm of ( m m)( 22
).
Defining the following dimensionless
parameters:

M*

M Me
; t
Mo Me

Dt
2

; Bi

h mL
D

(23)

It can be writen the Equation (18) as follows

M
m 0, 2 k 1

cmk ,

Amk
e
Mo Me

cmk ,

m c mk ,

d d

d d

(25)
where the denominator is the total solid volume in
the prolate spherical coordinate system.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

(20)

Multiplying both sides of Equation (20) by

(c
,
)( 2- 2) and integrating in a
p pk ) p(cpk,
quarter of the ellipsoid volume, it is obtained:
L2

m c mk ,

(19)

m 0,2 k 1

L2
L

0 1

The coefficients Amk are obtained from the

orthogonal conditions. Substituting the initial
condition Equation (5a) in Eq. (19), it is obtained:
Mo

2
A mk
e c mk t
M
M
o
e
m 0, 2 k 1

2
cmk
t

(24)

The average moisture content of the solid

can be calculated as follows:

As application, the methodology was used to

predict the drying kinetics and moisture content
distribution of a prolate spheroid with aspect ratio
L2/L1=2.0 and Bi=1.0. Table 1 presents the c
values, roots of the radial spherical function, for
=L2/L, the eigenvalues b of the expansion
coefficients dn,m and coefficients Am.k and, finally,
the obtained values for the orthogonality criterion
to radial and angular functions.
Three
computational
code
were
implemented, utilizing the software Mathematica .
To obtain the values of the c, b, dn,m, and Am,k
coefficients and the orthogonality conditions of the
function of the final presented solution in the
Equation (19). It can be observed that the
acquirement of this analytical solution requires a
very hard work and an excessive number of
computational work hours, besides its comparison
with the numerical solution thats given by Lima
(1999) and Lima & Nebra (2000).
Some
obtained
results
with
the
computational code for given conditions were
exhaustively compared with the supplied results in
works of Flammer (1957), Haji-Sheikh & Sparrow
(1966), Stratton et al. (1941), and Abramowitz &
Stegun (1972). The given values in the Table 1 can
be used to reproduce the results that are shown in
this work and to help investigators to validate
computational codes in future works.
Results of this work were compared with
numerical results for an ellipsoid (L2/L1=1.1), with
Bi infinite given by Haji-Sheikh & Sparrow (1966)
to validate the mathematical model Figure 3 shows
the comparison between the concentration ratio at
the center and focal point of a prolate spheroid as a
function of Fo thats defined as Fo=Dt/L12. Almost
complete concordance exists between the results,
like can be observed.
Figure 4 shows the comparison between the
average moisture content as a function of Fourier
number during the drying process for a prolate
spheroid with aspect ratio L2/L1=2.0 and Bi=1.0,
which was obtained in this work and numerical
results that were reported by Lima (1999) and
Lima & Nebra (2000).

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

46
Figure 5 illustrates the moisture content
distribution inside the prolate spheroid through the
use of different tons for three Fourier numbers.
The moisture content changes with the changing
angular and radial coordinates. The comparison of
the graphs indicates that the increasing of the
values of causes the moisture content decrease
for any at any Fo. The moisture content profile
decrease in any point for increasing values of Fo
( , ), what indicates indicating that the moisture
flux occurs from center to the surface. The strong
moisture content dependence with the radial and
angular coordinates it can be also observed. The
concentration dependence with the angular
coordinate is slightly larger than its dependence
with the radial coordinate. In this case, the
dimensionless moisture content is decreasing with

the increase of , for all values of Fo. It is verified

that the moisture content gradients are high, except
the ones for the regions near the center of the body.
It is verified that the surfaces of and constant,
are not spherical, but they present approximately
an elliptical behaviour.
It is verified that the concentration ratio
decreases faster in the extremity of the z-axis
(z=L2). This effect decays to the end of y-axis
(z=L1). This behaviour occurs in all types of
ellipsoids, and it increases proportionally to the
aspect ratio. In order, the behaviour of the moisture
content with the angular coordinate is different
from a sphere (L2/L1=1.0), where symmetry exists
relative to this coordinate. This difference will
increase with the increase L2/L1.

1.00

L2/L1=1.1

(M-Me)/(Mo-Me)

0.80

0.60

This work
Center
Focal point

0.40

Haji-Sheikh and Sparrow (1966)

Center

0.20

Focal point
0.00
0.01

0.10

1.00

Fo=Dt/L1^2

Figure 3 - Comparison between the moisture content ratio in the center and focal point of a spheroid with
L2/L1=1.1, thats given by the authors and Haji-Sheikh & Sparrow (1966)
1.00
Bi=1.0
L2/L1=1.0 (Analytical, Luikov, 1968)
L2/L1=2.0 (Analytical, This work)
L2/L1=2.0 (Numerical, Lima, 1999)

0.80

M*

__

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00
Fo=Dt/L12

4.00

5.00

Figure 4 - Dimensionless average moisture content as a function of Fourier number of a spheroid with
L2/L1=2.0 and Bi=1.0, given by the authors and Lima (1999), and Luikov (1968) to sphere.
Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

47
Table 1 - Values of the coefficients and orthogonality criterion of the spherical functions for L2/L1=2.0 and Bi=1.0
m

A mk
Mo

10

12

14

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6

1,953419
7,47987
10,2890584
12,9668292
15,6714269
18,3848365
21,10095
23,8186
5,81391
13,0637331
15,7245503
18,396268
21,1103237
23,816222
26,532186
10,26605
15,69248
18,4858417
21,10981
23,808902
26,5200414
29,2384852
12,58607
18,11000
21,24923
23,83100
26,517288
29,20961
34,90268
15,01682
20,22141
23,9797148
26,54714
29,26756
35,66107
39,52014
17,49912
22,22500
26,6785033
29,18105
35,27147
39,39431
43,07483
20,01203
24,44630
29,32767
35,32351
39,53762
43,28633
22,54517
26,79318
30,71061
35,40961
39,29675
42,81976

1,08354
6,69892
9,55454
12,2296
14,9323
17,6443
20,3593
23,7939
39,3376
61,462
74,7909
88,165
101,711
115,283
128,869
80,089
129,670
154,969
178,686
203,053
227,511
252,022
137,593
211,265
252,551
286,383
321,515
356,679
430,936
210,010
301,763
366,791
410,966
457,641
567,020
632,911
297,357
401,371
497,183
550,598
679,930
767,163
844,907
399,693
516,960
642,774
795,359
901,959
996,524
517,067
648,431
766,522
906,288
1021,03
1124,60

Me

1,48481
-0,866435
0,342731
15,468
-26,6011
29,1506
-24,519
-9,15009
0,0109559
0,127735
17,2802
-23,7898
21,4571
-14,8797
8,43806
1,57958
0,383505
11,5816
-16,8422
12,9801
-7,21616
11,842
1,50672
-0,082394
3,86001
-9,7495
7,42446
17,3211
-7,62993
1,91373
-0,772457
0,387092
-1,67017
20,0474
3,96735
-12,1622
2,41766
-1,13313
-0,290447
-5,85693
-4,87921
10,6966
-11,6956
4,28054
-1,10305
6,30253
2,89170
-4,53534
3,32747
5,47110
-1,03888
-5,93359
-1,72847
1,22652
3,41665

Figure 6 illustrates the moisture content

distribution inside the solid with aspect ratios
L2/L1=1.5 and L2/L1=2.0 in Fo=0.122 and Bi
infinity. The highest moisture gradients are found
as expected in comparison with the case to Bi=1.0.
.

L2 / L

0 1

2
m

d d

,m p

-0,0004899991
0,00330227
0,00290506
-0,00156183
0,000930949
-0,000531135
0,00026297
-0,0000915305
-0,000164286
0,00769859
0,000591925
-0,000347971
0,000202749
-0,00010286
0,0000385393
0,000406412
0,000147741
0,00021217
-0,000118301
0,0000591328
-0,0000195042
0,0000337982
0,000247829
-0,0000192767
0,0000823914
-0,0000432522
0,0000230514
0,000148078
-0,000224578
0,000187496
-0,0000422199
0,0000154751
4,47683,10E-7
0,000105134
0,0000539277
-0,0000827413
0,00020642
-0,0000385566
-0,0000462464
-0,000307788
-0,0000827867
0,0000700765
-0,0000372207
0,000190972
-0,0000271166
0,000150271
0,000066225
-0,0000553565
0,0000215678
0,000251751
-0,0000197972
-0,000116087
-0,0000250977
-5,16498.10-6
0,0000216238

Figures 7 and 8 show the moisture content as a

function of the radial and angular coordinates for
various Fouriers numbers during the drying
process.

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

2.00

2.00

1.80

1.80

1.80

1.60

1.60

1.60

1.40

1.40

1.40

1.20

1.20

1.20

1.00

1.00

1.00

2.00

48

0.80

0.80

0.80

0.60

0.60

0.60

0.40

0.40

0.40

0.20

0.20

0.20

0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00

0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00

0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00

(a) Fo=0.122

(b) Fo=0.366

(c) Fo=0.732

Figure 5 Moisture content distribution inside the prolate spheroid with aspect ratio L2/L1=2.0 and Bi=1.0
during the drying process. Fo=Dt/L12

2.00

1.50

1.00

1.00

1.50

0.50

0.50

0.00
0.00

0.50
y

0.00
0.00

1.00

(a)

0.50
y

1.00

(b)

Figure 6 Moisture content distribution inside the prolate spheroid with aspect ratios (a) L2/L1=1.5 and (b)
L2/L1=2.0 to Fo=0.122 and Bi infinity.

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

49
1.00
L2/L1=2.0 Bi=1.0
Fo=0.0366
Fo=0.0732
Fo=0.1464
Fo=0.2440
Fo=0.3660
Fo=0.5490
Fo=0.7930
Fo=1.2200
Fo=1.5860

0.80

M*

0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
1.00

1.04

1.08

1.12

Figure 7 Dimensionless moisture content as a function of

numbers, L2/L1=2,0 and Bi=1,0.

1.16

in =0,0 ( 0 y L1) and various Fouriers

1.00
L2/L1=2.0 Bi=1.0
Fo=0.0366
Fo=0.0732
Fo=0.1464
Fo=0.2440
Fo=0.3660
Fo=0.5490
Fo=0.7930
Fo=1.2200
Fo=1.5860

0.80

M*

0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

Figure 8 - Dimensionless moisture content as a function of

numbers, L2/L1=2,0 and Bi=1,0.

The results for ellipsoid, calculated with the

coefficients shown in Table 1, present a small
error for any Fouriers number. This difference
can be attributed to the instability of the Bessel
functions for small Fouriers numbers, and to the
successive approximation of the presented method
here. This last problem can be solved using a
higher number of terms in the determination of
the coefficients. Some others results are noted: the
moisture content strongly depends on the Fo and
the equilibrium moisture content is achieved at
Fo 5.0.
CONCLUSIONS

The present theory was applied to an

ellipsoid with L2/L1=2.0 treated here as an
application of the general method. It indicates that

1.00

in =1,0 ( 0 z L) and various Fouriers

the method can be solved directly by use of the

Equation (24) and (25), with determined the
eigenvalues and spherical coefficients. The
method does not require any particular geometry
form in study changing from sphere to cylinder
besides ellipsoids of revolution. The analytical
solution presented here can be used to obtain
results that describe the transient phenomena, in
particular, moisture content distribution and
drying kinetics, in bodies with spherical,
cylindrical and elliptical geometries, considering
the diffusion coefficient constant and the mass
diffusion as sole mechanism of moisture
migration. As obtained the solution is referred to
the case with convective boundary condition at
the surface, it can be used to validate numerical
solutions, which can be extended to cases with
less restrictive conditions.
The mean value of moisture content is
particularly useful when the model is used to

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

50
determine the diffusion coefficient from drying
kinetic experimental data. The used dimensionless
coordinates, moisture ratio and Fouriers number,
were adequate to get general results, to be applied
to any case of heat or mass transfer. The moisture
content is strongly influenced by the Fouriers
number in any position in the interior of the
spheroid. The equilibrium moisture content is
approached, at any point of the body, to
Fo=Dt/L12 5.0 (L2/L1=2.0 and Bi=1.0) according
to the results reported in the literature. The
dimensionless moisture content decreases faster in
the extremity of the z axis (z=L2) what and decays
to the end of y axis (z=L1) indicates that the
regions near the z=L2 dry first.

Lima, A. G. B., 1999, Diffusion phenomenon in

prolate spheroidal solids. Case studied:
drying of banana. State University of
Campinas (UNICAMP), 1999. 265p. (Doctor
Thesis). (In portuguese).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Luikov, A. V., Analytical heat diffusion theory,

London: Academic Press, Inc. Ltd, 1968. 685p.

The authors would like to express their

thanks
to
CAPES
(Coordenao
de
Aperfeioamento de Pessoal de Nvel Superior,
Brazil) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Cientfico e Tecnolgico), for
its financial support n 476457/2001-7 to this
work.
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solution of the mass diffusion equation applied

Revista Brasileira de Produtos Agroindustriais, Campina Grande, v.4, n.1, p.41-50, 2002

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