Experimental Study of the Independence of Diffusion and Hydrodynamic Permeability Coefficients in Collodion Membranes

The two parameters usually invoked when discussing transport across membranes are the "diffusion permeability coefficient" and the "hydrodynamic permeability coefficient." In this study the magnitude of these two coefficients is established experimentally for collodion membranes of differing porosities. The hydrodynamic permeability is predominant while convergence of the two permeabilities tends to obtain as the membranes become less coarse. The flux data obtained are used to calculate "average pore diameter" and the meaningfulness of these calculations is interpreted. The relationship between the two coefficients and transport across membranes as treated by the system of irreversible thermodynamics is discussed.