PERMEABILITY OF SOLUTES THROUGH CELLOPHANES GRAFTED WITH VINYL MONOMERS .1. DIFFUSION OF POTASSIUM-CHLORIDE, UREA, AND URIC-ACID

The diffusive permeability of potassium chloride, urea, and uric acid through cellophanes grafted with acrylamide, acrylic acid, styrene, and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone by γ-ray irradiation was studied. The diffusive permeability coefficients of the permeants through the grafted cellophanes were increased with increase in hydration of the grafted membranes, except for the permeation of potassium chloride through cellophanes grafted with acrylic acid. The permeation of potassium chloride, urea, and uric acid through the various grafted cellopbanes is explained by the free volume concept of homogeneously water-swollen membranes. However, the behavior of the permeation of potassium chloride through cellophane grafted with acrylic acid deviated from that of nonionic membranes because of the contribution of the electrical interaction between electrolyte and charge of the membrane. © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.