Theoretical study of interdiffusion of aqueous solutions of 1 : 1 electrolytes having the same anion through a cation-exchange membrane

Abstract

The interdiffusion of aqueous 1: 1 electrolytes having the same anion through a negatively charged (cation-exchange) membrane has been studied without taking into account the diffusive layers. It has been established that the interdiffusion coefficients of the cations depend (in addition to their own diffusion coefficients in the membrane) on the ratio of the diffusion coefficients of both cations to the diffusion coefficient of the anion and the ratio of the density of charges fixed in the membrane to the equal concentration of the electrolytes on both sides of the membrane, as well as the equilibrium distribution coefficients of cationanion ion pairs in the membrane matrix. The conditions have been found under which the membrane plays the role of a “blocking system” (like a diode) that is impenetrable to cations located on both sides of the membranes in spite of the existence of their concentration gradients. The developed approach can be used to describe the interdiffusion of 1: 1 electrolytes through any uniformly charged membrane.