EFFECT OF POLYMER MATRIX AND METAL SPECIES ON FACILITATED OXYGEN TRANSPORT IN METALLOPORPHYRIN (OXYGEN CARRIER) FIXED MEMBRANES.

Facilitated transport of molecular oxygen in membranes (poly(dimethyl siloxane), poly(butyl methacrylate), and poly(methyl methacrylate)) containing cobalt(II) or iron(II) alpha , alpha prime , alpha double prime , alpha prime double prime -meso-tetrakis (o-pivalamidophenyl)porphyrin as a fixed carrier of oxygen is studied by the combination of oxygen permeability in the membranes and oxygen-binding ability to the metalloporphyrin. The facilitation of oxygen transport is remarkable for the lower upstream pressure, which corresponds to a dual-mode transport model. The facilitation is more enhanced in the polymer matrix with the lower oxygen solubility (according to Henry's law). Although the oxygen-binding affinity of the iron porphyrin is larger than that of the cobalt porphyrin, the facilitation is lower because of its smaller oxygen-binding kinetic constant.