Mass transfer through the gas-liquid interface at the presence of adsorbed active phospholipid monolayer

The transfer phenomena in the thin liquid layer covered by the phospholipid monolayer are investigated. The case of dynamic oscillatory changes of the air/liquid area is considered. Such situation occurs in the pulmonary surfactant system being the natural biological structure in the breathing zone of the human respiratory system. It was shown that in those conditions the surface tension gradient is instantly generated and varied along the interface what results in intensified flow at the interfacial region. Experimental analysis conducted with the Langmuir film balance confirmed the theoretically predicted induction of the ordered superficial flow. Measurements of the interfacial mass transfer rate for the oxygen being absorbed by the liquid film showed the increase of the absorption rate in comparison with the static or phospholipid-free interface. It was postulated that for certain system parameters the hydrodynamic structure of the flow can be qualitatively changed what should result in a strong increase of interfacial mass transfer rate.