MODELING OF FORWARD AND REVERSE BIAS CONDITIONS IN BIPOLAR MEMBRANES

We present a set of analytical solutions to the problem of ion transpo rt and field enhanced water dissociation in bipolar membranes. Most of the simplifying assumptions introduced in previous models have now be en removed. Particular attention is paid to the effects caused by a no n-abrupt, smooth junction at the cation layer/anion layer interface, t he forward bias characteristics of the current-voltage curve, and the membrane electrical resistance. Despite of the coupling between ion tr ansport and the chemical reaction responsible of the field enhanced wa ter dissociation, the solutions derived are simple, and can readily fi nd application in multidisciplinary fields like the biophysical modeli ng of biological membranes and the separation processes involving synt hetic bipolar ion exchange membranes.