Membrane transport systems. II. Transport of alkali metal ions against their concentration gradients

Abstract

An artificial membrane system based on a series of macrocyclic polyether carriers (crown ethers) is described. Under the influence of a proton gradient the carriers move alkali metal ions from basic to acidic solution through a chloroform membrane phase. Transport occurs against the concentration gradient of the transported ion as a result of a coupled counterflow of protons. Different transport behaviors are observed depending upon the metal ion concentration. At high metal ion concentration the amount transported is a linear function of time; at lower metal ion concentration the amount transported is a complex function of time which may be described as the result of a pair of consecutive first order processes. Effects of metal ion, carrier, and proton concentration on transport rate are considered. The rate increases with increasing metal ion or carrier concentration but is essentially independent of the pH of either aqueous phase. Increased lipophilicity of the carrier also results in a rate increase. Carriers derived from 18-crown-6 transport potassium selectively and all ions more rapidly than 15-crown-5 derivatives which are, however, selective for sodium. The overall efficiency of the system is discussed in terms of competing "leak" reactions, either of cations from the basic phase or of anions from the acidic phase.