Study of Electrolytic Conductance Across Peritoneal Membrane as a Function of Concentration and Temperature

Abstract

The specific conductance of aqueous solutions of various electrolytes was measured in the two compartments of a special cell developed in the laboratory at several temperatures between 15 to 35°C (±0.1°C) across peritoneum membrane. The values of specific conductance increased with the rise in concentration of electrolyte, which was found due to the progressive accumulation of ionic species within the membrane. The tendency of attaining maximum limiting values of specific conductance at higher concentration seemed to be due to the fact that an electrically neutral pore, which is specific for a particular ion, is unlikely to contain more than one type of ion. The increase in the values of specific conductance with rise in temperature was observed due to the fact that the state of hydration of penetrating ions may be considered to exit in a dynamic condition so that at higher temperature, higher fraction of total number of given species would possess excess energy per mole. The values of specific conductance measured for different electrolytic solution across the membrane attained a particular sequence for anion followed by cation. The sequence of anion were found in a series SO₄^– > Cl^– > NO₃^– > F^– > K⁺ and the sequence for the cations found K⁺ > Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Cr³⁺ > Fe³⁺. This trend was in good accordance to varying membrane defect and ion solution of different size of these ions.