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The Theory of Osmosis

January 2003
DOI:10.1115/IMECE2003-55040
Conference: ASME 2003 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
Authors:

Larry Howlett
HTMD Engineering

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Abstract

A fresh view for explaining the process of osmosis and the phenomenon of osmotic
pressure is presented. The process of osmosis was identified and modeled more than 100 Discover the world's
research
years ago. Others have unsuccessfully challenged the original model developed by J.H.
van’t Hoff. We revisit the basic equations and assumptions used in the thermodynamic 25+ million
derivation of the osmosis model. And, we propose a small but significantly different view of members
the traditional theory of osmosis. From this new view of osmosis and the osmosis
experiment, we conclude that osmosis occurs at atmospheric pressure. In cellular 160+ million
membranes, flow from the solvent to the solution is related to the vapor pressure difference publication
determined from the concentration difference with Raoult’s law. Furthermore, we suggest pages
that osmotic pressure as determined from the osmosis experiment is related to both the 2.3+ billion
Join for free
solution properties and the membrane characteristics. We suggest that the difference citations
between experimental and theoretical determination of osmotic pressure can be attributed
to capillary action that may occur in some man made membranes.

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 Proceedings of IMECE
International Mechanica
Mechanicall Engineering Congre
Congress
ss and Exposition
November 16-21, 2003 Washington, DC

IMECE2003-55040

The Theory of Osmosis Proceedings of IMECE

International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 16-21, 2003 Washington, DC

Larry D. Howlett
HTMD Engineering
DeKalb, Illinois USA

ABSTRACT the solution and is called the osmotic pressure. Thus water will move
A fresh view for explaini explaining ng the process of osmosis and the from a region of low osmotic pressure to a rregion egion of high osmotic
phenome
phenomenon non of osmot
osmotic ic press
pressure
ure is prese
presented.
nted. TheThe process of pressure. Martin, et.aet.all [1].
Theory of Osmosis
osmosis was identif
identified
ied and modelemodeled d more than 100 years ago.
The origina
originall model developed by J.H. van't Hof Hofff has been The phenomenon was discovered in 1748 by J.A. Nollet as h
challe
challenged
nged by others. We revisrevisit
it th
thee bbasicasic equatio
equationsns and was experimenting with water and wine separated by an animal
assumpt
assumptionsions used in the thermody thermodynamic namic derivatio
derivation n Larry
of theD. Howlett IMECE2003-55040
bladder. He noticed that water flowed into the wine. And, if
the wine chamber was closed, the pressure in the wine
osmosis model. And, we propose a slightly different HTMD Engineering
interpre
interpretatio
tatio
tationn of the theory which results in a signific significantly
antly chamber
DeKalb, Illinois USA increased. An animal bladder is not a per perfect
fect semi-
diffe
different
rent view of the tradi traditional
tional theory of osmo osmosis.sis. permeable membrane. Some of the components of wine also
flowed tthrough
hrough the membrane into the pure water. In more
the solution and is called the osmotic pressure. Thus water will move
From this new view of osmos osmosis is and the osmos
osmosis is experi
experiment,
ment, we correct scientific terms, we would say that the solve solvent
nt flows
from a region of low osmotic pressure to a r egion of high osmotic
ABSTRACT
conclude that osmo
osmotic tic flow is related to the vapo
vapor r press
pressure
ure into the solution through a semi-permeable membrane. If the
A fresh view for explaining the process of osmosis and the pressure.
gradient
gradient. . non of The vapor pressu
pressure membraneMartin,
is not et.a
a perfect
l [1]. semi-permeable membrane, some
phenome osmot ic press urereis is direc
directly
prese nted.tly rrelated
elated
The to th
process thee
of
concent of the solute also flow
flowss into the solvent.
concentration
osmosis was b
ration byy Rao
Raoult's
identif ult's
ied andllaw.
aw.modeled more than 100 years ago.
The original model developed by J.H. van't Hoff has been The phenomenon was discovered in 1748 by J.A. Nollet as h
Furthe
Furthermore, T. experimenting
was Graham (1854) withand waterM.andTraub
Traube
wineeseparated
(1864) by de developed
anveloped
animal
challermore,
nged byw weeothers.
sug
suggest
gest tha that
Wet osmo
osmotic
revistic
it thppressure
ressure
e basicaequatio
s de
determi
termi
termined
ns ned
and
from the osmos
osmosis is experime
experiment nt is related to bot
bothh the solution membranes,
bladder. He which
noticedw
would
ould
that allowflowed
water th
thee passage
into theooffwine.
water And,
but not if
assumptions used in the thermodynamic derivation of the
propert
properties
ies model.
and the membrane the
the dissolved
wine chamber solute. wasU Using
sing these the
closed, mo
more
repressure
perfec
perfectt in andthe
stronger
wine
osmosis And, characharacteris
we cteris
cteristics.
tics. a We
propose also conclude
slightly different
that os
osmotic
motic membranes
chamber increased.W.F.P. Pfeffer's
An animal(1877)bladder is experimental
not a per fectrresults
esults
semi-
interpre tatioppressure
nressure
of theis theory
not a go goodod va
which variable
riable
results ffor
or in
mode
modeling
a ling os
osmotic
significmotic
antly
flow. Weview sugge
suggest showed
permeable thatmembrane.
the osmotic Somepressu
pressurere
of increased with higher
the components solutio
of wine also
different ofstthethat the
tradi ddiffere
iffere
ifference
tional nce betwee
theory between
of osmo n sis.
experi
experimental
mental and
theoret
theoretical
ical dete
determinatio
rminatio
rmination n of osmot
osmotic ic pressu
pressure re can be attrib
attributed
uted to concentrations.
flowed t hrough the membrane Osmotic intopressures as high In
the pure water. as more
148
capill
capillary
ary act
action
ion tha
thatt may o
occur
ccur i
in
n some man made memb
membranes.
ranes. atmospheres
correct haveterms,
scientific been measured
we would bysay
th
thee that
Earl the
of solveBerkeley
nt and
flows
From this new view of osmosis and the osmosis experiment, we
E.G.J. H
Hartley,
artley, (1906-09), aand
nd confi
confirmed
rmed
into the solution through a semi-permeable membrane. If the b
byy J.C.W. Frazer
conclude that osmotic flow is related to the vapor pressure
Key Words: Osmosis, Osmotic and R.T. Myrick
membrane is not (1916)
a perfect G
Glasstone
lasstone [2].
semi-permeable membrane, some
gradient . The vapor pressuPressure,
re is direc Capillary,
tly r elatedDiffusion,
to th e
Vapor Pressure,
concentration by RaoHy Hydraulic
draulic
ult's law. Flow, Membrane, Chemi Chemical
cal of the solute also flows into the solvent.
Potential Ostwald (W (Williams
illiams & Williams [3] ) reasoned tthat hat osmotic
pressure
T. must (1854)
Graham be independent
and M. of Traub
the membra
membrane.
e (1864)ne. He sh
showed
owed
developed
Furthermore, we suggest that osmotic pressure a s determined
that a perpetual
membranes, m
motion
which otion
w oulddevice
allow could
th e be constructed
passage o f waterif, but
for the
not
from the osmosis experiment is related to both the solution
INTRODUCTION same
the solution,solute.
dissolved one couldUfindsing membranes
these mo re that deve
develop
perfec t lop different
and stronger
properties and the membrane characteristics. We also conclude
Osmosis is defined as athe netvamove
movement
ment osmotic
membranes pressures. The ma
W.F.P. Pfeffer's machine
chine
(1877)would use the osmotic
experimental r esults
that os motic pressure is not good riable for of
modewater
lingm molecules
olecules
osmotic
from a region where their concentration is high to a region where pressure
showed difference
that the between
osmotic theretwo
pressu membranes
increased with to continually
higher solutio
flow. We suggest that the difference between experimental and
their concentration is lown through circulate fluid.
theoret ical determinatio of osmotaicpa partially
rtiallyrepermeable
pressu can be attribmembrane
membrane.
uted to. concentrations. Osmotic pressures as high as 148
.... T The
he pressure re required
quired to sstop top the flow of pure water into a atmospheres have been measured by th e Earl of Berkeley and
capillary action that may occur in some man made membranes.
solution across a partially permeable membrane is a characteristi characteristicc of E.G.J. Hartley, (1906-09), and confirmed by J.C.W. Frazer
Key Words: Osmosis, Osmotic Pressure, Capillary, Diffusion, and R.T. Myrick (1916) Glasstone [2].
Vapor Pressure, Hydraulic Flow, Membrane, Chemical
Potential Ostwald (Williams & Williams [3] ) reasoned that osmotic
pressure must be independent of Copyright the membra ©ne. 2003He byshASME
owed
that a perpetual m otion device could be constructed if, for the
same solution, one could find membranes that develop different
the net movement of water molecules
INTRODUCTION osmotic pressures. The ma chine would use the osmotic
from Osmosis
a region is defined
where their as
concentration is high to a region where
their concentration is low through a partially permeable membrane. pressure difference between the two membranes to continually
.... The pressure required to stop the flow of pure water into a circulate fluid.
solution across a partially permeable membrane is a characteristic of

Copyright © 2003 by ASME

:
:
 Citations (1) References (18)

Osmosis: Characteristics of Liquid at an Interface

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Jan 2006
Larry Howlett

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