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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology
Published on: May 11, 2013
Mechanistic equations for membrane substance transport and their identity with Kedem-Katchalsky equations
1Institute of Physics, Swietokrzyska Academy, 25-406 Kielce, Swietokrzyska 15, Poland. kargol@pu.kielce.pl
Abstract:
Since the physical interpretation of practical Kedem-Katchalsky (KK) equations is not clear, we consider an alternative, mechanistic approach to membrane transport generated by osmotic and hydraulic pressure. We study a porous membrane with randomly distributed pore sizes (radii). We postulate that reflection coefficient (sigma(p)) of a single pore may equal 1 or 0. From this postulate we derive new (mechanistic) transport equations. Their advantage is in clear physical interpretation and since we show they are equivalent to the KK equations, the interpretation of the latter became clearer as well. Hence the equations allow clearer and more detailed interpretation of results concerning membrane substances transport.
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