title: Ionic Environmental Effect on the Time-Dependent Characteristics of Membrane Potential in a Bipolar Membrane.
abstract: The membrane potential characteristics of a bipolar membrane are discussed in an examination of the contribution of an intermediate phase to time-dependent behavior. Bipolar membranes, which consist of a poly(sulfone) base polymer with a quaternary amino group and a poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) cation-exchange membrane, were prepared in this study. The membrane potentials in various external concentration differences, the facing directions of the membrane, and the external electrolyte solutions were measured as a function of time. In this study, the time course of the membrane potential was simulated by using the equation based on the Teorell-Meyer-Sievers theory and by assuming the concentration in the intermediate phase, which is much higher or lower than that in the external solution. The membrane facing direction and the intermediate phase condition will alter the direction of the membrane potential change. The intermediate phase in a bipolar membrane seems to act as an alteration barrier for the membrane potential according to the membrane facing direction. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials and International Research Center of Macromolecular Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152, Japan
authors.forename: Veinardi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suendo
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanioka