L. Canet et al., Impedance and electrical potential across supported liquid membranes: roleof interfacial potentials on the active transport of a metal cation, J MEMBR SCI, 163(1), 1999, pp. 109-121
The facilitated transport mechanism of a metal cation across a supported li
quid membrane was examined in the case of a Cd2+ flux mediated by the natur
al ionophore lasalocid; the polypropylene membrane was impregnated with o-n
itrophenyl octyl ether. Impedance and membrane potential measurements were
carried out along with flux measurements of the Cd2+/H+ counter transport.
A proton flux was inferred from the membrane potential measurements perform
ed under open circuit, zero electrical current, conditions. This proton flu
x was confirmed by impedance measurements performed under closed circuit, n
on-zero electrical current, conditions. The main consequence of this proton
transfer under open circuit conditions (which are the normal membrane sepa
ration conditions) was the building of interfacial potentials. These potent
ials modify the ionic concentrations at the membrane interfaces, and thus r
ender invalid the mathematical treatment of the cation flux based on the eq
uilibrium ion exchange concept which is generally used. When the potential
dependence of the effective interfacial reactions is incorporated into the
transport model, the theory can account quantitatively for the experimental
fluxes measured under open circuit conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B
.V. All rights reserved.