Gel layers

Fig. 10. Composite hoUow-fiber membranes (a) polysulfone boUow fiber coated witb fiiran resin. A and B denote fiiran resin surface and porous support, respectively (b) cross section of composite boUow fiber (PEI/TDI coated on polysulfone matrix). C, D, and E denote tightly cross-linked surface, "gutter" gel layer, and porous support, respectively. Both fibers were developed for reverse osmosis appHcation (15).

The immersion of glass electrodes in strongly dehydrating media should be avoided. If the electrode is used in solvents of low water activity, frequent conditioning in water is advisable, as dehydration of the gel layer of the surface causes a progressive alteration in the electrode potential with a consequent drift of the measured pH. Slow dissolution of the pH-sensitive membrane is unavoidable, and it eventually leads to mechanical failure. Standardization of the electrode with two buffer solutions is the best means of early detection of incipient electrode failure. 

A key factor determining the performance of ultrafiltration membranes is concentration polarization due to macromolecules retained at the membrane surface. In ultrafiltration, both solvent and macromolecules are carried to the membrane surface by the solution permeating the membrane. Because only the solvent and small solutes permeate the membrane, macromolecular solutes accumulate at the membrane surface. The rate at which the rejected macromolecules can diffuse away from the membrane surface into the bulk solution is relatively low. This means that the concentration of macromolecules at the surface can increase to the point that a gel layer of rejected macromolecules forms on the membrane surface, becoming a secondary barrier to flow through the membrane. In most ultrafiltration appHcations this secondary barrier is the principal resistance to flow through the membrane and dominates the membrane performance. 

In ulttafUttation, the flux,/ through the membrane is large and the diffusion coefficient, D, is small, so the ratio cjcan teach a value of 10—100 or mote. The concentration of retained solute at the membrane surface, may then exceed the solubility limit of the solute, and a precipitated semisohd gel forms on the surface of the membrane. This gel layer is an additional battier to flow through the membrane. 

Eigute 31 also shows that the point at which the gel layer forms and the flux teaches a maximum depends on the concentration of the macromolecule in the solution. The mote concentrated the solution, the lower the flux at which the gel layer forms. The exact relationship between the maximum flux and macromolecule concentration can be obtained from equation 2, expressing the concentration at the membrane surface, as at which point /becomes giving equation 3. 

Other distinct classes of wood in a tree include the portion formed in the first 10—12 years of a tree s growth, ie, juvenile wood, and the reaction wood formed when a tree s growth is distorted by external forces. Juvenile fibers from softwoods are slightly shorter and the cell walls thinner than mature wood fibers. Reaction wood is of two types because the two classes of trees react differentiy to externally applied stresses. Tension wood forms in hardwoods and compression wood forms in softwoods. Compression wood forms on the side of the tree subjected to compression, eg, the underside of a leaning tmnk or branch. Tension wood forms on the upper or tension side. Whereas in compression wood, the tracheid cell wall is thickened until the lumen essentially disappears, in tension wood, tme fiber lumens are filled with a gel layer of hemiceUulose. 

This deposit is composed of suspended particles similar to conventional filter cakes, and more importantly, a slime that forms as retained solutes exceed their solubility. The gel concentration 6 is a function of the feed composition and the membrane-pore size. The gel usually has a much lower hydrauHc permeabihty and smaller apparent pore size than the underlying membrane (27). The gel layer and the concentration gradient between the gel layer and the bulk concentration are called the gel-polarization layer. 

The gel-layer thickness is limited by mass transport back into the solution bulk at the rate ... 

In a static system, the gel-layer thickness rapidly increases and flux drops to uneconomicaHy low values. In equation 6, however, iCis a function of the system hydrodynamics. Typically, high flux is sustained by moving the solution bulk tangentially to the membrane surface. This action decreases the gel thickness and increases the overall hydrauHc permeabiUty. For any given channel dimension, there is an optimum velocity which maximizes productivity (flux per energy input). 

A number of analytical solutions have been derived for iC as a function of channel dimensions and fluid velocity (30). In practice, the fit between theory and data for K is poor except in idealized cases. Most processes exhibit either higher fluxes, presumably caused by physical dismption of the gel layer from the nonideal hydrodynamic conditions, or lower fluxes caused by fouling (31). In addition, iCis a function of the fluid composition. 

For very small AP, flux is linear with pressure. Figure 7 shows a graph of flux versus pressure. Curve A is the pure water flux from equation 1, curve B is the theoretical permeate flux (TPE) for a typical process. As the gel layer forms, the flux deviates from the TPF following equation 7 and curve D results. Changing the hydrodynamic conditions changes K and results in a different operating curve, curve C. 

In the course of mixture separation, the composition and properties of both mobile phase (MP) and stationary phase (SP) are purposefully altered by means of introduction of some active components into the MP, which are absorbed by it and then sorbed by the SP (e.g. on a silica gel layer). This procedure enables a new principle of control over chromatographic process to be implemented, which enhances the selectivity of separation. As a possible way of controlling the chromatographic system s properties in TLC, the pH of the mobile phase and sorbent surface may be changed by means of partial air replacement by ammonia (a basic gaseous component) or carbon dioxide (an acidic one). 

Cake layer formation builds on the membrane surface and extends outward into the feed channel. The constituents of the foulant layer may be smaller than the pores of the membrane. A gel layer can result from denaturation of some proteins. Internal pore fouling occurs inside the membrane. The size of the pore is reduced and pore flow is constricted. Internal pore fouling is usually difficult to clean. 

Epiphase Airway surface liquid gel layer composed of mucins in the form... 

Fig. 23 Reflectance spectra (o—o—) of 3 pg testosterone (A) and 3 pg zT -androstendione-(3,17) (B) taken up on a silica gel layer compared with the absorption spectra determined m methanolic solution ( — —)...

Aqueous solutions of dyes ean also be employed instead of water. In the ease of hydrophilic dyes such as methylene blue or patent fast blue the transparent background of the TLC/HPTLC plate is stained blue. Pale spots occur where there are nonwetted zones. Dauble [89] detected anion-active detergents in this way on silica gel layers as pale zones on a blue background with palatine fast blue GGN... 

Apply sample solution to silica gel layer, cover with a glass plate, heat to 160 C for 25 mm and allow to cool After this hydrolysis apply 0 2% dansyl chlonde in acetone, cover with a glass plate and store in the dark for 1 h, then chromatograph... 

Note The reagent can be employed on silica gel layers, which may also be impregnated, for example, with 8-hydroxyquinoline or dibenzoylmethane [3] or with 2,2 -dipyridyl or iminodiacetic acid [4] or on cellulose layers. 

Note The reagent was not particularly sensitive for acids. On cellulose layers the detection limit was ca. 1 pg (salicylic acid > 5 pg) and on silica gel layers it was 5 pg (fumaric acid ca. 1 pg). 

Note Aldoses do not react or only react with greatly reduced sensitivity. The reagent can be employed with silica gel, kieselguhr and Si 50 000 layers. Paraffin-impregnated silica gel layers may also be employed [8]. 

Note The dipping reagent, which can also be applied as a spray reagent, can be employed on cellulose and silica gel layers. A 3% solution of 2,2 -bipyridine in 40% thioglycolic acid can be employed as a specific spray reagent for the detection of iron (red coloration) [7],... 

Red-violet chromatogram zones on a weakly ochre-colored background are yielded within a few seconds (< 30 s) on silica gel layers. 

Detection and result The chromatogram was dried in a stream of warm air for 10 min, immersed in the reagent solution for 3 s and then subjected to intense UV radiation (high pressure lamp, A = 365 nm) for up to 10 min. Terephthalic (hRf 0 - 5), pimelic (hRf 55), suberic (hRf 60), sebacic (hRf 65 — 70) and benzoic acids (hRf 70 — 75) together with sorbic, malic, adipic, citric, tartaric, lactic and fumaric acids only exhibited a reaction on silica gel layers at higher concentrations. 4-Hydroxybenzoic, salicylic and acetylsalicylic acids fluoresced light blue after irradiation. The detection limit per chromatogram zone was 0.5 pg for salicylic acid and more than 5 pg for benzoic acid. 

Since the fluorescence intensity of the zones on silica gel layers is reduced after a few minutes the determination of aromatic amino acids is usually performed on... 

Note The dipping solution may also be used as a spray solution [2]. Catecholamines are only separable on silica gel layers as their triacetyl derivatives but they can be separated underivatized on cellulose layers [4]. 

It is often possible to increase the detection sensitivity in visible light by exposing the dipped or sprayed chromatogram to ammonia vapors it can also be sprayed with caustic soda or potash solution. When this is done the fluorescence intensity is reduced on silica gel layers and increased on RP ones. 

The reagent, which can also be employed to impregnate the layer before chromatography, is best suited for silica gel layers [4] it can, however, also be employed on aluminium oxide, kieselguhr. Si 50000, cellulose and polyamide layers [4]. 

Dasgupta and Jacobs [29] patented a concept of using a gel layer in combination with a microporous membrane. The gel layer acts as an adhesive bridge between separator and electrodes, just as in the flat pack Zn/MnC cell [30], The microporous membrane (for example, Celgard membrane) provides excellent mechanical... 

In preparing the membrane, a clear sol was obtained by the addition of acid into the aluminum sec-butoxide sol to peptise the sol and obtain a stable colloid solution. Aluminum monohydroxides formed by the hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxides, which are peptisable to a clear sol. Peptisation was performed by the addition of acid and heat treatment for a sufficient time. It was found that stable sols cannot be obtained when the concentration of the peptisation acid is too low. The critical range for inorganic acids such as nitric, hydrochloric and perchloric acids is 0.03-0.1 mole/mole of hydroxide. In this study, nitric acid was used as the peptising agent. The resulting sols are poured into Petri dishes and dried in an oven at a controlled drying rate to obtain a gel layer. The molar ratio of zirconia salt... 

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