Resistance Coefficients of Polymer Membrane with Concentration Polarization

Abstract

The Kedem-Katchalsky equations, modified by means of symmetric transformations of Peusner thermodynamic networks, were applied to interpret the membrane transport in concentration polarization conditions. The results from the study demonstrate that the resistance coefficients counted for membrane transport of aqueous solutions of glucose through Nephrophan membrane in horizontal plane are nonlinearly dependent on mean concentration of glucose in the membrane (C̄). It was also shown that the threshold value of concentration (C̄ cr ) existed, and for C̄ > C̄ cr , the resistance coefficients depend, while for C̄ < C̄ cr , they do not depend on the membrane system configuration. Increase of mean glucose concentration in the membrane (in the range C̄ > C̄ cr causes decrease of difference between resistance coefficients of the membrane system in homogeneous conditions (solutions mechanically stirred) and in conditions with hydrodynamic instabilities (configuration B). Besides increase of mean glucose concentration in the membrane (in the range C̄ > C̄ cr causes increase of the difference between resistance coefficients for membrane system with concentration polarization without hydrodynamic instabilities (configuration A) and membrane system in homogeneous conditions. © 2012 The Author(s).