Ion permeation of PVA/gelatin blend membrane prepared under high electric field

Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) /gelatin (GEL) blend membranes were prepared under a high electric field, and their swelling and ion permeation behaviors were investigated. For alkali metal salts such as LiCl, NaCl and KCl, the permeability coefficients were increased until the electric field of 10 kV due to the decreased tortuosity, whereas they were decreased over 10 kV owing to the increase of the degree of crystallinity. The swelling ratios of the blend membranes showed the minimum values at pH 6, while the permeability coefficients exhibited the maximum values at the same condition. The minimum swelling ratios result from the repulsion effect between charged groups in acidic or basic regions, and the maximum permeabilities result from Donnan exclusion effect in the same regions. Especially, the permeability coefficient for KCl of the membrane increased steeply to five times at 40 degrees C than below 35 degrees C.