Transport properties of eastman cellulose acetate membranes: Influence of diffusant size and shape on permeability

Eastman cellulose acetate membranes (acetyl content = 40%) have been studied by means of dialysis rate experiments with uncharged permeants of selected sizes and shapes. The experimental results show that the high flux membranes exert no molecular size or shape selectivity on the transport of permeants whose molecular weights are less than 1152. The membranes used in desalination, however, are selective as to molecular size and shape. Desalination membranes, therefore, may be useful in separations where differences in size and shape are present.