Electrokinetic flow in a planar slit covered by an ion-penetrable charged membrane

• Published in: Electrophoresis 2000-11, Vol.21 (17), p.3541-3551
• Main Authors: Tseng, Shiojenn, Kao, Chen-Yuan, Hsu, Jyh-Ping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrokinetic flow; Electrons; Electroosmotic velocity; Ion-penetrable charged membrane; Ions; Kinetics; Membranes, Artificial; Planar slit; Streaming current
• ISSN: 0173-0835; 1522-2683
• DOI: 10.1002/1522-2683(200011)21:17<3541::AID-ELPS3541>3.0.CO;2-9

The electrokinetic flow of an electrolyte solution in a planar slit covered by an ion‐penetrable charged membrane layer is analyzed theoretically. An approximate analytical expression for the spatial variation in the electrical potential is derived, and the electroosmotic velocity, the total electric current, and the streaming potential of the system under consideration are evaluated. The effects of ε' (relative permittivity of liquid phase/relative permittivity of membrane layer), η' (viscosity of liquid phase/viscosity of membrane layer) and the valence of anions (coions) on the volumetric flow rate and total current are examined. We show that the effect of the valence of cations (counterions) on the volumetric flow rate is less significant than that of ε' and that of η'. However, the effect of ε' on the total current is less significant than that of the valence of cations and that of η'. The variation of total current as a function of ionic strength is found to have a local minimum, regardless of whether a pressure gradient is applied or not. The absolute streaming potential has a local maximum as the concentration of fixed charge varies, which was not found in previous studies.