Facilitated transport of oxygen in copolymer membranes of styrene and 4-vinylpyridine containing cobalt schiff base carrier: Effect of membrane thickness and carrier concentration

Abstract

The validity of the simple mathematical model for facilitated transport in a solid state membrane developed previously has been examined againsts the carrier concentration and membrane thickness. Membranes are prepared with copolymer of styrene and 4-vinylpyridine as a matrix and Co(salen) as a carrier. 4-Vinylpyridine is incorporated to provide the coordination site for Co(salen) carrier. Oxygen permeability through the facilitated transport membrane is linearly increased with the square of its thickness, as predicted by the mathematical model. However, the oxygen permeability does not increase linearly with the carrier concentration. This seems to be due to the deactivation of the carrier by dimerization at high carrier concentrations as well as the reduced chain mobility by coordination of bulky Co(salen) carrier.