POLYELECTROLYTE SOLUTIONS USING A 3-COMPONENT MIXTURE

A symmetrical formulation of Poisson-Boltzmann and modified Poisson-Bo ltzmann theories is used to study aqueous solutions of polyelectrolyte -simple electrolyte mixtures or solutions of macroions, counterions an d neutral particles. The solutions are modelled by a three-species pri mitive model electrolyte in which the particles are asymmetrical in ch arge and size. The predicted correlation functions are found to be in reasonable agreement with those from hypernetted chain calculations. A n interesting feature of the structure observed in the theoretical cal culations is that, due to collective effects between the species under certain physical conditions, an attractive force can exist between tw o polyions. Donnan pressures and potentials are calculated for the pol yelectrolyte-electrolyte solution.