MODELING OF MEMBRANE-POTENTIAL AND IONIC FLUX IN WEAK AMPHOTERIC POLYMER MEMBRANES

Model calculations concerning the membrane potential and ionic fluxes in weak amphoteric polymer membranes have been presented and the resul ts were compared with recent experimental data obtained with a membran e which contains succinyl chitosan as ampholyte and poly(vinyl alcohol ) as supporting matrix. The ion transport through the membrane has bee n described with the aid of the Nernst-Planck equations, and the resul ts obtained explain satisfactorily the observed experimental trends in broad ranges of pH and electrolyte concentration. Also, the model pre dictions concerning the membrane isoelectric point may be useful for t he analysis of future experiments. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.