Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.14, No.3, 330-336, 2006
Membrane potentials across hybrid charged mosaic membrane in organic solutions
Membrane potentials across hybrid charged mosaic membrane in organic solutions were measured. Equilibrium swelling degree (SD) and fixed charge density in both organic solutions and water were also determined. Ethylene glycol, ethanol, n-propanol and glycerol were used as organic solutes; meanwhile 0.001mol.dm(-3) aqueous KCl solution was utilized as a strong electrolyte to measure the electrical difference. Equilibrium swelling degree indicated that it could be affected by the density of organic solutes; while it enhanced with the increasing density of these solutes. The measurement of fixed charge density showed that the membrane had the maximal absolute value in water among these solvents whether for cationic or anionic groups; the difference of dielectric constant between the water and the organic solutes might be responsible for these change trends. It was confirmed that membrane potentials increased with both the increasing concentration of the organic solutions and the elevated pH values. These results demonstrated that the characteristics of the hybrid charged mosaic membrane could be highly impacted by the properties of the organic solutes. A theoretical model for charged membranes in ternary ion systems of weak electrolyte can be used to explain the above-mentioned phenomena.
Keywords:hybrid charged mosaic membrane;membrane potential;equilibrium swelling degree;fixed charge density;organic solution