The effect of electrostatically enhanced adsorption of polylysine on a heterogeneous cation-exchange membrane

Abstract

Electrostatics influences the interactions between charged biopolymers and ion-exchange membranes. When carrying a charge opposite to that bound in the membrane, the biopolymers readily adsorb on the membrane surface, altering local conditions and, thus, affecting the desalination processes that proceed. To provide a coherent description of the consequences of such adsorption, we experimentally investigate the effects of polylysine as a model cationic polymer on the behavior of a heterogenous cation-exchange membrane. We show that even short exposure to polylysine changes the membrane behavior dramatically. Such a change reflects the influence of the adsorbed polylysine on natural convection, electroconvection, and water splitting. By directly observing the membrane-electrolyte interface, we find polylysine suppresses the beneficial electrical-fieldinduced convective transport at the membrane-electrolyte interface. Specifically, it diminishes electroconvection dominating at the membrane surface for polylysine-free solutions and attenuates natural convection, dictating the developed flow patterns. At the same time, it provides conditions enhancing a water-splitting reaction, significantly affecting the pH of the solutions adjacent to the membrane. All these effects are dependent on the polylysine concentration. Our study emphasizes the potentially harmful impact of biomolecular adsorption mediated by electrostatic interactions.