Transport properties of tartrate ions through an anion-exchange membrane

In this study, the transport properties of tartrate ions through an anion-exchange membrane were evaluated by current–voltage curves. The values of the limiting current density were determined using these curves, to estimate the transport number of tartrate ions through the anion-exchange membrane. The influence of tartrate ion concentration, ethanol content in solution and solution pH were investigated. The results obtained, typically revealed three regions of current–voltage curves for potassium tartrate solutions with concentrations between 0.01 and 0.05 mol/L. The estimated transport number of tartrate ions through the membrane for this concentration range was 0.9. Neither the ethanol present in the potassium tartrate solution nor the solution pH affected the shape of the current–voltage curves. However, the limiting current density values were greatly influenced by the ethanol content and solution pH.