Transport in Porous Media, Vol.92, No.2, 337-356, 2012
Nonlinear Effects in Osmotic Volume Flows of Electrolyte Solutions through Double-Membrane System
The results of experimental study of volume osmotic flows in a double-membrane system are presented in this article. The double-membrane system consists of two membranes (M-u, M-d) oriented in horizontal planes and three identical compartments (u, m, d), containing unstirred binary or ternary ionic solutions. In this system concentrations of the solutions fulfil the following conditions C-us = C-ds < C-ms (s = 1 or 2). Solutions of aqueous potassium chloride or ammonia were used as binary solutions, whereas potassium chloride dissolved in aqueous ammonia solution or ammonia dissolved in aqueous potassium chloride solution were used as ternary solutions. For binary solutions, the dependencies of a volume flux (J(v)) on potassium chloride or ammonia concentration (C-ms) are linear, whereas for ternary solutions these dependencies are nonlinear. The volume flux amplification and the osmotic conductivity coefficients were calculated on the basis of experimental data. The coefficient of the volume flux amplification for ternary solutions in comparison to binary ones depends on solutes concentrations and has maximum values dependent on solutes concentrations. Similarly, the osmotic conductivity coefficient has maximal values dependent on solutes concentrations. Moreover, the thermodynamic model of the osmotic volume flux was developed and the results were interpreted within the gravitational instability category.
Keywords:Osmosis;Concentration boundary layers;Concentration polarisation;Kedem-Katchalsky equations