Methodology

A. Activity 1: Simulating Dialysis (Simple Diffusion)

To determine the diffusion rate of common solutes— sodium chloride (NaCl), urea,
albumin, and glucose— a diffusion chamber set-up (Figure 1) was utilized using two
beakers separated by a dialysis membrane. The four dialysis membranes used have
different molecular weight cutoffs (MWCO): 20, 50, 100, and 200.

Figure 1. Dialysis membrane.

The first part of the experiment involved the use of the 20 MWCO membrane in
determining the rate of diffusion of NaCl. The left beaker was filled with 9mM NaCl solution
while the right beaker was filled with deionized water. The barrier separating the beakers
from the dialysis membrane was removed and the set up was left for one hour, letting the
NaCl solutes diffuse from high to low concentration.
After sixty minutes, the concentration of solutes in both beakers was determined
and recorded. The average rate of diffusion was also calculated. The beakers were then
flushed empty to remove the solution from the beakers and to ready diffusion setup for
another round of experiment. The same method was also used in determining the diffusion
rate of 9mM urea.
For the second part of the experiment the same method as mentioned above was
utilized. However, the 50 MWCO dialysis membrane was used instead of the 20 MWCO in
determining the diffusion rate of 9mM and 18mM NaCl from the given solution to the
beaker filled with deionized water. After using the 50 MWCO membrane, the 100 MWCO
membrane was utilized next in determining the rate of diffusion of 9mM NaCl and 9mM
urea respectively.
 The last part of the experiment involved the use of the 200 MWCO dialysis
membrane. Diffusion rate of 9mM of glucose from the left beaker to the right which is filled
with deionized water was computed. After flushing the beakers empty, the left beaker was
filled with 9mM albumin and the right with deionized water. The setup was left and
observed for 60 minutes and the solute concentration was determined and recorded. The
diffusion rates were calculated.

B. Activity 3: Simulating Osmotic Pressure

The diffusion chamber (Figure 1) from the first activity was used to determine
osmotic pressure (in mmHg) of solutes. A pressure window is located on top of each beaker
to determine the pressure inside. Also, the concentration for each beaker is displayed on
the concentration window beside them. For the first part, the 20 MWCO dialysis membrane
was used as a semipermeable membrane between 5mM and 10mM NaCl solution and the
beaker with deionized water. The concentration and pressure after 60 minutes was
determined for both concentration. The beakers were emptied, cleaned, and dried.
Next, the 50 MWCO dialysis membrane was placed between the two beakers,
replacing the 20 MWCO membrane. 10mM NaCl was dispensed to the first beaker and
deionized water was dispensed to the second beaker. After removing the barrier between
the beakers and the dialysis membrane, the pressure and solute concentration in each
beaker was determined.
For a test involving next the 100 MWCO membrane, the left and right beaker were
filled with 8mM glucose solution. After sixty minutes, the solute concentration for both
beakers and glucose diffusion rate were determined. For the last part of the experiment,
the 200 MWCO dialysis membrane was used. The left beaker was filled with 8mM glucose
and the right with deionized water. After sixty minutes, rate of diffusion and solute
concentration were also checked and recorded. After flushing the beakers clean and empty,
9mM of albumin was dispensed to the first beaker while the second beaker was filled with
10mM glucose. The rate of diffusion for both solutes was computed and the solute
concentration in each beaker was measured.