Role of Convection in Dialysis Desalination of Protein Mixtures by Microporous Charged Neosepta Membranes

Abstract

Microporous Neosepta membranes with relative porosity 56-62% and volume concentration of ionogenic groups (trimethylbenzyl-ammonium and sulfonic acid, 0.012-0.082 meq/ml) were used in the dialysis desalination of protein solution which contained immunoglobulin specific to horse-radish peroxidase. It was found that, if the pressure in the diffusate compartment lower than that in the dialysate compartment, the transition from the diffusion transport mechanism to the convection mechanism brought about not only the concentrating of the dialysate, but also the redistribution of proteins between the membranes and solutions. Up to 45-49% of Igs and 5-35% of accompanying proteins accumulated in the membrane phase, while their amount in the diffusate was 1-3% and 25-30%, respectively.