Charged mosaic membrane prepared from microsphere gel and its characterization

A charged mosaic membrane with parallel array of different negative and positive charges was prepared from microsphere gel. Several characteristics on the novel membrane were investigated through experiments concerning transport studies, membrane potentials and membrane resistance. From analysis of the volume flux and salt flux, preferential salt transport across the charged mosaic membrane was suggested. Membrane potential did not indicate a constant value and the absolute value decreased rapidly in short time. The large time dependence supported the interpretation on salt flow in transport studies. From potential measurement, cationic and anionic transport numbers in membrane also were determined to t̄K+=0.41 and t̄Cl−=0.59. Membrane resistance of this mosaic membrane indicated slightly higher values than that of ordinary charged membrane.