Diffusion of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) through cellulose ester membranes

Abstract
Diffusion coefficients of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) in aqueous solutions were ascertained by the diaphragm method as a function of molecular weight and temperature using mixed cellulose ester (Millipore) membranes. The results agree satisfactorily with diffusion coefficients obtained by other methods. Separation of polymer according to molecular size takes place on diffusion as a function of membrane pore diameter. Also, interaction between the polymer and membrane has been observed resulting in a distribution coefficient between solution and membrane larger than 1. The energy and entropy of activation, repectively, increase with polymer chain length, and their magnitudes are in agreement with the view that segment mobility is operative for the diffusion process.