Membrane-controlled reagent-delivery systems – a new approach for the continuous production of reagent and standard solutions

A new simple and robust system for the production of standard solutions, based on the mass-transfer of analytes through membranes, is described. The device consists of a cone-shaped reservoir vessel, filled with a concentrated solution of the analyte and separated from a liquid acceptor stream by a membrane. Mass-flow from donor to acceptor solution is controlled by the mass-transfer-affecting properties of the active membrane area, which is determined by the hole in a template (diameter 0.8 mm) placed between the membrane and the acceptor-channel. Using nitrate as model analyte and a track-etched membrane filter (pore size 0.1 μm) dilution factors up to 2,400,000 with long-term reproducible accuracy of < 2% have been achieved. Adjustment of a requested concentration is possible by varying either the flow rate of the acceptor stream or the concentration of the reservoir solution. Received: 22 November 2000 / Revised: 5 March 2001 / Accepted: 7 March 2001