Colloid titration and streaming current detector are two popular techniques used to determine the charge density of dissolved and colloidally dispersed polyelectrolytes. However, both techniques are based on some assumptions that may not be valid under some circumstances. In this paper, a membrane separation technique developed to determine the charge density and characterize a charge neutralization reaction is described. The technique characterizes the reaction between cationic and anionic charge carriers by measuring the counterions released during reaction or the unreacted small molecule charge carriers. Membranes with selected cutoff pore size were used to separate the species of interest from the bulk of the reaction mixture. Three different charge determination techniques were also compared. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.