Structural and electrochemical parameters of asymmetric membranes for reverse osmosis

The structural, electrochemical and selective characteristics of a real rev erse osmotic membrane and a model bilayer membrane were determined and comp ared over a wide concentration range of NaCl solution. It was found that th e transport characteristics of the reverse osmotic membrane are determined by the parameters of the selective layer. It was also found that reverse os motic selectivity at C greater than or equal to 0.05 M is connected with a non-electrostatic mechanism of salt rejection. The results of membrane cond uctivity measurements are used to calculate the salt partition coefficients for the selective layer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.