POLARIZATION STUDIES IN COLLODION MEMBRANES AND IN SYNTHETIC PROTEIN-LIPOID MEMBRANES

1. Collodion membranes of high polarizability and low resistance can be obtained either by addition of certain ether-soluble substances such as phosphatides, olive oil, mastix, and gum benzoin, to the collodion or by drying collodion membranes for a limited time under pressure. 2. The permeability of membranes of different polarization has been measured by means of conductivity methods. 3. Sintered glass filter plates of Jena glass crucibles on which proteins and lipoids have been adsorbed show polarization. It could be shown that some narcotics which react with lecithin cause an increase in polarization of the protein-lipoid-glass system. Substitutions of the protein but not of the lipoid were possible, without causing a decrease in the polarizability of the membranes.