Effect of proton concentration on membrane potential across a weak amphoteric polymer membrane

An amphoteric membrane consists of both positively and negatively fixed charge groups chemically bound to the polymer chains. If the external solution is changed from alkali to acid, it is possible to obtain an experimental result in which the membrane potential changes from positive to negative through the isoelectric point. It was characterized by examining the relationship between membrane potential and proton concentration (pH) obtained from both experimental and theoretical considerations. The Nernst-Planck flux equation and the Donnan equilibrium theory were also solved for a four-component system combined with the dissociation constant, in order to discuss the pH dependence of membrane potential in a weak amphoteric membrane by comparing the experimental results with the calculated results. It was proven that the calculated results substantially deviated from the theoretical results despite a similar tendency. Such a deviation was caused by the fact that the original theory disregarded the activity coefficient and the ionic mobility, which were dependent on the fixed charge concentration in a membrane. The original theoretical model was modified by adding the effect of a fixed charge group to the activity coefficient and ionic mobility. The calculated results using the modified model explained well the experimental results if the parameter called charge effectiveness, phi, was introduced into the equations. Introduction of phi into the prediction of membrane potential was already done by Kobatake et al. in a system of a strong polyelectrolyte monopolar membrane/salt aqueous solution. In this study, it was proved that phi can also be introduced into a weak amphoteric polymer membrane/salt aqueous solution system. Finally it was also concluded that the Donnan equilibrium and the Nernst-Planck flux equation were still applicable for examining the transport phenomena for the system of a weak amphoteric charged membrane and electrolyte solutions at various pH.     

Bulk conductivity of soft surface layers: experimental measurement and electrokinetic implications

Conductivity measurements were carried out on a family of polyacrylamide-co-sodium acrylate gels cross-linked with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide in a homemade electrokinetic cell. The conductivity data allowed the equilibrium Donnan potential difference between the bulk gel and the bulk electrolyte solution to be estimated at various ionic strengths. The data were fit to a simple model assuming full dissociation of functional groups as well as to a more complete model (Dukhin, S. S.; Zimmerman, R.; Werner, C. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2004, 274, 309) that accounts for the weak electrolyte nature of the acrylate groups fixed within the gel structure. The conductivity of the gel layers was observed to be significantly larger than the conductivity of the bulk electrolyte solutions at low ionic strengths. The increased conductivity reflects the enhanced concentration of ions within the gel structure due to Donnan equilibrium and the mobility of ions within the high water content gel layers. The electrokinetic implications of the bulk conductivity of gel-like soft surface layers are discussed in terms of the influence of the gel conductance on the resulting streaming potential.     

Electrochemistry of capillary systems with narrow pores V. Streaming potential: Donnan hindrance of electrolyte transport

The electrochemical theory of capillary systems with narrow pores outlined in Part I of this series is applied to the streaming potential and the electrical hindrance of electrolyte transport across ion selective membranes (Donnan hindrance). Both phenomena are related to the fixed ion concentration. Streaming potentials were measured while using collodion membranes of graded porosity and graded fixed ion concentration. The bulk phases consisted of aqueous KCl solutions with a concentration 2×10⁻⁴ n. The streaming potentials were calculated theoretically by using the electrical conductivity data of the membranes given in Part III of this series. The agreement between the experimental results and the predictions of the theory is good. Theory also predicts that a volume flow across the membrane caused by a hydrostatic pressure difference generates a filtration effect the concentration c_s of the electrolyte in the solution leaving the membrane on the low pressure side is lower than the concentration c on the high pressure side. The concentration ratio (c_s/c) is equal to the ratio (κ/κ_i) of the electrical conductivity of the high pressure phase κ and that of the pore fluid κ_i. The hindrance of the electrolyte transport is a transient phenomenon. It disappears slowly if the experiment is continued over a long period of time. This phenomenon, which is of importance in the understanding of ultrafiltration processes using membranes, is discussed in detail. It is compared with the observed changes in the streaming potential as a function of time. The influence of the electrical convection conductivity (electrical surface conductivity) on the streaming potential can be neglected under the chosen experimental conditions. Its influence will be discussed in Part VI of this series.     

Donnan equilibrium of ionic drugs in pH-dependent fixed charge membranes: theoretical modeling

We have studied theoretically the partition equilibrium of a cationic drug between an electrolyte solution and a membrane with pH-dependent fixed charges using an extended Donnan formalism. The aqueous solution within the fixed charge membrane is assumed to be in equilibrium with an external aqueous solution containing six ionic species: the cationic drug (DH(+)), the salt cations (Na(+) and Ca(2+)), the salt anion (Cl(-)), and the hydrogen and hydroxide ions. In addition to these mobile species, the membrane solution may also contain four fixed species attached to the membrane chains: strongly acid sulfonic groups (SO(3)(-)), weakly acid carboxylic groups in dissociated (COO(-)) and neutral (COOH) forms, and positively charged groups (COO...Ca(+)) resulting from Ca(2+) binding to dissociated weakly acid groups. The ionization state of the weak electrolyte groups attached to the membrane chains is analyzed as a function of the local pH, salt concentration, and drug concentration in the membrane solution, and particular attention is paid to the effects of the Ca(2+) binding to the negatively charged membrane fixed groups. The lipophilicity of the drug is simulated by the chemical partition coefficient between the membrane and external solutions giving the tendency of the drug to enter the membrane solution due to hydrophobic interactions. Comparison of the theoretical results with available experimental data allows us to explain qualitatively the effects that the pH, salt concentration, drug concentration, membrane fixed charge concentration, and Ca(2+) binding exert on the ionic drug equilibrium. The role of the interfacial (Donnan) electric potential difference between the membrane and the external solutions on this ionic drug equilibrium is emphasized throughout the paper.     

Ionic partition equilibria of a simple organic electrolyte in chemically modified charged cellulosic membranes

An investigation of ionic partition equilibria of sodium benzene sulfonate in cellulosic membranes containing added carboxymethyl, sulphoethyl or phosphoric groups is reported. The results in the electrolyte concentration range of 1 x 10^-3 to 4 x 10^-1 mol-dm^-3 could not be interpreted satisfactorily in terms of the simple (equipotential volume) Donnan equilibrium theory, even on the assumption of counterion binding by the fixed charged groups. Application of the treatment of Glueckauf or of the equipotential surface pore model suggests that the observed behaviour can be explained in terms of membrane nonhomogeneity (resulting in nonuniform charge distribution), which appears to be considerably more pronounced than in the case of the cellulose membranes studied by Tsimboukis and Petropoulos. Attention is also drawn to certain important points concerning the experimental applicability of the Glueckauf power law and the method of testing the validity of the equipotential volume Donnan law.     

An investigation on the high-frequency dielectric dispersion of concentrated ion-exchange resin beads suspensions

In this paper, dielectric measurements were carried out on concentrated suspensions of D₃₅₄ ion-exchange resin (IER) beads dispersed in electrolyte solutions. The distinct high-frequency dielectric behavior occurring in the megahertz frequency range was interpreted based on the understanding of the interparticle interaction and the properties of the constitute phases. The results indicated that the dominant parameter of continuous phase influencing HFDD is the solution concentration after full Donnan equilibrium, while the dominant parameter of dispersed phase influencing HFDD is the fixed charge density. In addition, properties of the dispersed IER beads including electric conductivity and permittivity were obtained in terms of the Hanai’s method.     

Contribution of convection,diffusion and migration to electrolyte transport through nanofiltration membranes

Transport mechanisms through nanofiltration membranes are investigated in terms of contribution of convection, diffusion and migration to electrolyte transport. A Donnan steric pore model, based on the application of the extended Nernst-Planck equation and the assumption of a Donnan equilibrium at both membrane-solution interfaces, is used. The study is focused on the transport of symmetrical electrolytes (with symmetric or asymmetric diffusion coefficients). The influence of effective membrane charge density, permeate volume flux, pore radius and effective membrane thickness to porosity ratio on the contribution of the different transport mechanisms is investigated. Convection appears to be the dominant mechanism involved in electrolyte transport at low membrane charge and/or high permeate volume flux and effective membrane thickness to porosity ratio. Transport is mainly governed by diffusion when the membrane is strongly charged, particularly at low permeate volume flux and effective membrane thickness to porosity ratio. Electromigration is likely to be the dominant mechanism involved in electrolyte transport only if the diffusion coefficient of coions is greater than that of counterions.     

Relationship between membrane potential and electrolyte uptake by ion-exchange membranes

Electrical potentials arising across three cation-selective membranes of low water content when they separate solutions of different concentration of the same NaCl electrolyte have been measured at 25°C. Also, electrolyte uptake by these membranes when they are in equilibrium with different solutions of NaCl has been estimated. These data together with the apparent membrane transport number derived from membrane potential have been used to check a simple relation given by Lakshminarayanaih.     

Electrochemical characterization of an asymmetric nanofiltration membrane with NaCl and KCl solutions: influence of membrane asymmetry on transport parameters

Electrochemical characterization of a nanofiltration asymmetric membrane was carried out by measuring membrane potential, salt diffusion, and electrical parameters (membrane electrical resistance and capacitance) with the membrane in contact with NaCl and KCl solutions at different concentrations (10(-3)< or =c(M)< or =5 x 10(-2)). From these experiments characteristic parameters such as the effective concentration of charge in the membrane, ionic transport numbers, and salt and ionic permeabilities across the membrane were determined. Membrane electrical resistance and capacitance were obtained from impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements by using equivalent circuits as models. This technique allows the determination of the electrical contribution associated with each sublayer; then, assuming that the dense sublayer behaves as a plane capacitor, its thickness can be estimated from the capacitance value. The influence of membrane asymmetry on transport parameters have been studied by carrying out measurements for the two opposite external conditions. Results show that membrane asymmetry strongly affects membrane potential, which is attributed to the Donnan exclusion when the solutions in contact with the dense layer have concentrations lower than the membrane fixed charge (X(ef) approximately -0.004 M), but for the reversal experimental condition (high concentration in contact with the membrane dense sublayer) the membrane potential is practically similar to the solution diffusion potential. The comparison of results obtained for both electrolytes agrees with the higher conductivity of KCl solutions. On the other hand, the influence of diffusion layers at the membrane/solution interfaces in salt permeation was also studied by measuring salt diffusion at a given NaCl concentration gradient but at five different solutions stirring rates.     

Electrochemistry of capillary systems with narrow pores V. Streaming potential: Donnan hindrance of electrolyte transport

The electrochemical theory of capillary systems with narrow pores outlined in Part I of this series is applied to the streaming potential and the electrical hindrance of electrolyte transport across ion selective membranes (Donnan hindrance). Both phenomena are related to the fixed ion concentration. Streaming potentials were measured while using collodion membranes of graded porosity and graded fixed ion concentration. The bulk phases consisted of aqueous KCl solutions with a concentration 2×10⁻⁴ n. The streaming potentials were calculated theoretically by using the electrical conductivity data of the membranes given in Part III of this series. The agreement between the experimental results and the predictions of the theory is good. Theory also predicts that a volume flow across the membrane caused by a hydrostatic pressure difference generates a filtration effect the concentration c_s of the electrolyte in the solution leaving the membrane on the low pressure side is lower than the concentration c on the high pressure side. The concentration ratio (c_s/c) is equal to the ratio (κ/κ_i) of the electrical conductivity of the high pressure phase κ and that of the pore fluid κ_i. The hindrance of the electrolyte transport is a transient phenomenon. It disappears slowly if the experiment is continued over a long period of time. This phenomenon, which is of importance in the understanding of ultrafiltration processes using membranes, is discussed in detail. It is compared with the observed changes in the streaming potential as a function of time. The influence of the electrical convection conductivity (electrical surface conductivity) on the streaming potential can be neglected under the chosen experimental conditions. Its influence will be discussed in Part VI of this series.     

Synthesis and characterization of an amphoteric ion-exchange membrane

An amphoteric ion-exchange membrane was prepared by chemical grafting of acrylic acid and dimethyl amino-2-ethyl methacrylate on ozonized polyethylene. The effects of the variation of external pH on the physicochemical properties of this membrane were studied (exchange capacity, electrical resistance, water and electrolyte content, and membrane potential). The determination of the mean activity coefficient of the NaCl in the membrane phase using the Donnan equilibrium equation reveals that this coefficient increases with the NaCl concentration in the external solution. Fundamental electrochemical properties of the amphoteric membrane are discussed on the basis of the variation of the membrane selectivity with the external electrolyte concentrations and the pH. The properties at neutral pH are accounted for by a mutual neutralization of some acidic and basic groups in the membrane phase.     

Influence of steric, electric, and dielectric effects on membrane potential

The membrane potential arising through nanofiltration membranes separating two aqueous solutions of the same electrolyte at identical hydrostatic pressures but different concentrations is investigated within the scope of the steric, electric, and dielectric exclusion model. The influence of the ion size and the so-called dielectric exclusion on the membrane potential arising through both neutral and electrically charged membranes is investigated. Dielectric phenomena have no influence on the membrane potential through neutral membranes, unlike ion size effects which increase the membrane potential value. For charged membranes, both steric and dielectric effects increase the membrane potential at a given concentration but the diffusion potential (that is the high-concentration limit of the membrane potential) is affected only by steric effects. It is therefore proposed that membrane potential measurements carried out at high salt concentrations could be used to determine the mean pore size of nanofiltration membranes. In practical cases, the membrane volume charge density and the dielectric constant inside pores depend on the physicochemical properties of both the membrane and the surrounding solutions (pH, concentration, and chemical nature of ions). It is shown that the Donnan and dielectric exclusions affect the membrane potential of charged membranes similarly; namely, a higher salt concentration is needed to screen the membrane fixed charge. The membrane volume charge density and the pore dielectric constant cannot then be determined unambiguously by means of membrane potential experiments, and additional independent measurements are in need. It is suggested to carry out rejection rate measurements (together with membrane potential measurements).     

Nitrate and chloride transport through a smart membrane

To develop membranes having ionic selective properties under control of external stimuli is a challenge of the membrane and material scientific community. Conducting polymers swell and shrink under electrochemical control, so they are good candidates to prepare such smart membranes. The ionic transport through a new free-standing polypyrrole film working as a membrane in a diffusion cell was studied. The driving forces were transversal electric fields or concentration gradients across the film. The obtained ionic conductivity was dependent on both the electrolyte nature and concentration, as well as on the oxidation degree of the film, which was controlled by the applied external electric potential. Reverse and continuous changes of up to one order of magnitude on the transversal ionic conductivity are obtained when the membrane is in stationary oxidation states attained by polarisations at a constant potential in the range between −0.6 V and +0.4 V, respectively. A prevalent conductivity of anions (t₋ = 0.94) was obtained from Donnan potential measurements. The experimental results indicate that the oxidised film behaves as a nanoporous membrane highly permeable to nitrate ions, while the rejection of these ions is very high in the reduced film. The free-standing polypyrrole film works then as a smart membrane selective to nitrate ions under concentration gradient.     

反渗透膜UTC-70在水溶液中的介电谱及其解析

根据平面层状体系介电弛豫理论研究了反渗透膜UTC-70在各种浓度氯化钠和氯化钾溶液中的介电弛豫行为.利用计算机拟合的方法得到膜/溶液体系的介电参数,并由此计算得到了UTC-70膜相和水溶液相的相参数,获得了反映反渗透膜UTC-70荷电情况的信息及其与电解质溶液浓度的关系,介电解析的结果解释了介电弛豫的产生机制.     

纳滤膜对电解质溶液分离特性的理论研究(II): 混合电解质溶液

假定纳滤膜具有狭缝状孔, 使用纯水透过系数、膜孔径及膜表面电势来表征纳滤膜的分离特征, 用流体力学半径和无限稀释扩散系数表征了离子特性. 采用扩展Nernst-Planck方程、Donnan平衡模型和Poisson-Boltzmann理论描述了混合电解质溶液中离子在膜孔内的传递现象, 计算了三种商用纳滤膜(ESNA1-LF, ESNA1和LES90)对同阴离子、同阳离子和含四种离子的混合电解质体系中离子的截留率, 并与实验数据进行了比较. 计算结果表明, 电解质溶液中离子在纳滤膜孔内传递的主要机理是离子的扩散和电迁移, 纳滤膜对混合电解质溶液中离子的分离效果主要由空间位阻和静电效应决定. 该模型在低浓度时对含一价离子的混合电解质溶液通过纳滤膜的截留率计算结果比较准确, 但对高浓度或含高价离子的混合电解质溶液则偏差较大.     

Permeation of electrolyte water-methanol solutions through a Nafion membrane

The volume flux through a cation-exchange membrane (Nafion 117) separating two equal electrolyte water-methanol solutions as a function of the pressure difference was determined under different experimental conditions. The results show that permeation rates through the membrane are strongly dependent on the methanol content of the solutions, thus the value of the flux increases when the methanol percentage increases. The effect of the electrolyte concentration of the solution on the membrane permeability is less important, although its influence becomes significant at low electrolyte concentration and high methanol content on solvent. This behavior is explained in terms of the amount of solvent sorbed by the membrane. Typical flux behaviors observed with pressure difference are linear at low pressures, exhibiting a positive deviation at higher pressure difference values.     

Effect of acid-base equilibria on the donnan potential of layer-by-layer redox polyelectrolyte multilayers

In polymer films carrying an excess of fixed charge the electrostatic penalty to bring ions of same charge from the bathing electrolyte into the film sets a membrane potential (Donnan Potential) across the film-electrolyte interface. This potential is responsible for the ionic permselectivity observed in polyelectrolyte membranes. We have used electrochemical measurements to probe the dependence of the Donnan potential on the acid-base equilibrium in layer-by-layer self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayers. The voltammperogram peak position of the Os(III)/Os(II) couple in self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayers comprised of poly(allylamine) derivatized with Os(bpy)(2)PyCl+ and poly(vinylsulfonate) was recorded in solutions of increasing ionic strength for different assembly and testing solution pH. Protonation-deprotonation of the weak redox poly(allylamine) changes the fixed charge population in the as prepared (intrinsic) self-assembled redox polyelectrolyte multilayers. For films assembled in solutions of pH higher than the test solution pH, the Donnan plots (E(app) vs log C) exhibit a negative slope (anionic exchanger) while for films assembled at lower pH than that of the test solution positive slopes (cationic exchanger) are apparent. The ion exchange mechanism has been supported by complementary electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy experiments demonstrated that the as prepared films have a memory effect on their protonation state during assembly, which leads to the observed dependence of the Donnan potential on the adsorption pH.     

Streaming potential measurements as a characterization method for nanofiltration membranes

The streaming potentials of two different nanofiltration membranes were studied with several electrolyte solutions to investigate the influence of salt type and concentration on the zeta potential and kinetic surface charge density of the membranes. The zeta potentials decreased with increasing salt concentration, whereas the kinetic surface charge densities increased. The kinetic surface charge densities could be described by Freundlich isotherms, except in one case, indicating that the membranes had a negligible surface charge. The kinetic surface charge density observed was caused by adsorbed anions. Salt retention measurements showed different mechanisms for salt separation for the two investigated membranes. One membrane showed a salt retention that could be explained by a Donnan exclusion type of separation mechanism, whereas for the other membrane the salt rejection seemed to be a combination of size and Donnan excluion. Comparing the results obtained by the streaming potential measurements with those of the retention measurements, it could be concluded that the membrane with the highest kinetic surface charge density showed the Donnan exclusion type of separation, whereas the membrane with the lower surface charge density showed a separation mechanism that was not totally determined by Donnan exclusion, size effects seemed to play a role as well.     

Diffusion of electrolytes of different natures through the cation-exchange membrane

Diffusion of different electrolytes through a negatively charged (cation-exchange) membrane into distilled water has been studied. It has been established theoretically (with no regard to the presence of diffusion layers) that the integral diffusion permeability coefficient of an electrolyte depends on the diffusion coefficients and the ratio between the charge numbers of a cation–anion pair, the ratio between the density of charges fixed in the membrane and electrolyte concentration, and the averaged coefficient of equilibrium distribution of cation?anion ion pairs in the membrane matrix. It has been found that, when co-ions have a higher mobility, the dependence of diffusion permeability on electrolyte concentration passes through a maximum. Derived equations have been compared with experimental dependences of the diffusion permeability of an MC-40 membrane with respect to different solutions of inorganic 1: 1 and 2: 1 electrolytes. The developed method has been shown to be applicable for describing diffusion of any electrolytes (including asymmetric ones) through arbitrary uniformly charged membranes.