Development and test of a new Knudsen effusion apparatus for the measurement of low vapour pressures

A new Knudsen effusion apparatus based on the mass-loss technique was developed. The apparatus was designed for the measurement of vapour pressures below 1 Pa, at temperatures between 250 K and 470 K, using simultaneously up to seven effusion cells. The quality of the results obtained with this new apparatus was verified through the study of two reference compounds, anthracene and phenanthrene. Both the measured vapour pressures and the derived standard molar enthalpies of sublimation are in excellent agreement with values available in the literature for these compounds.

► A new Knudsen effusion apparatus is described.
► The experimental set-up was tested with the study of phenanthrene and anthracene.
► The comparison of the obtained results with literature values confirms the quality of the apparatus.