Relation between the dielectric constant of hydrophobic cation exchange membrane and membrane permeability to counterions.

Filters made of cellulose acetate-nitrate when saturated with organic solvents and interposed between aqueous solutions form membranes which behave like cation exchangers. The diffusion coefficients of counterions in such membranes are strongly dependent upon the dielectric constant of the saturating solvent. The results obtained suggest that a linear relationship between the log of the cation's diffusion coefficient (or membrane conductance) and the reciprocal value of the dielectric constant of the saturating solvent exists. There is also a good correlation between the relative membrane permeability to organic cations and the solubility of the cations in the pure solvent phase. These studies indicate that there are two routes for cation movement through the membrane: (a) the bulk hydrophobic phase and (b) continuous narrow aqueous channels.