Transport of dissolved oxygen through silicone rubber membrane

Abstract

The transport of dissolved oxygen in water through a silicone rubber membrane was studied theoretically and experimentally. The apparent oxygen permeability coefficients of silicone rubber were measured at various membrane thicknesses, temperatures, and concentration levels. The permeation flux was measured under both steady-and unsteady-state conditions. For the first time, the thickness effect of dissolved gas permeation has been studied. It was found that the apparent permeability increases with increasing membrane thickness and approaches asymptotically to the gas phase permeability. A general equation was developed to explain this phenomenon based on the concept of immobile boundary layers. It was also observed that the apparent oxygen permeability increased exponentially with increasing concentration levels in water. The temperature dependency of permeability was of the Arrhenius type.