Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol.268, No.1, 188-199, 2003
Transport of some strong incompletely dissociated acids through anion-exchange membrane
Nitric and sulfuric acids belong among strong incompletely dissociated acids, so that in the description of their transport through an ion-exchange membrane, ionic equilibria have to be taken into account. The paper presents the determination of ionic mobilities and diffusivity of nondissociated form of these acids. For that purpose, data on the dialysis experiments with nitric and sulfuric acids in a batch mixed cell with an anion-exchange membrane NEOSEPTA-AFN, which have been completed by those on the membrane conductivity, have been used. The dependencies of the ionic mobilities and the diffusivity of nondissociated form of nitric acid upon the acid concentration in the membrane have been approximated by second degree polynomials. Their coefficients have been determined by numerical integration of the partial differential equation describing the concentration fields of the acids in the membrane and liquid films on both sides of the membrane, followed by an optimizing procedure. The model used is based on the Nernst-Planck electrodiffusion equation. Using all the experimental data obtained at various acid concentrations and rotational speeds of the stirrers, it has been found that ionic mobility is strongly affected by the acid concentration in the membrane and decreases in the series H3O+, SO42-, NO3-, HSO4-. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.