Volume Flow Resistance of a Hemodialysis Membrane and Protein Adsorption

Abstract Polarization and adsorption effects during bovine serum albumin (BSA) ultrafiltration across a commercial hemodialysis membrane are discussed. BSA adsorption on the membrane surface depends on the pH and concentration of solutions. Overall membrane permeability is reduced due to the resistance of both the concentration polarization and the adsorption layers. Ultrafiltration experiments with a pure solvent (water) and solutions allow the different contributions to the total volume flow resistance of the membrane to be distinguished. These data are needed to develop a model bioartificial pancreas in which animal pancreatic islets of Langerhans are bounded between two ultrafiltration membranes.