SOLUTE DIFFUSION IN SWOLLEN MEMBRANES III. NON-EQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMIC ASPECTS OF SOLUTE DIFFUSION IN POLYMER NETWORK MEMBRANES

The Kedem-Katchalsky phenomenological coefficients L-p, L-D and L-pD of albumin transport through PVA membranes were calculated through knowledge of the corresponding multicomponent diffusion coefficients. Non-equilibrium thermodynamic considerations for non-ideal systems of hydrophilic solutes in water were used to describe the transport of albumin through swollen non-porous (gel) polymeric membranes. Experimental results and the effect of polymer structure are also discussed.