Gas permeability of phosphatidylcholine impregnated in a porous cellulose nitrate membrane

Egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine (EPC) and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were impregnated in a porous cellulose nitrate membrane, and permeabilities of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide through these composite-type membranes were measured. Gases are suggested to permeate across the membrane by an activated flow of the solution—diffusion type through the impregnated lipid matrix. The EPC-filled membrane shows higher permeability and smaller activation energy of permeation compared to the DPPCfilled membrane, which is ascribed to the higher mobility of fatty acid chains of EPC compared to those of DPPC.