Multichannel extraction of charged species from liquid with use of track membranes

An extraction of negative charged species under electric field from liquid solutions into vacuum by use of poly(ethylene terephialate) track membranes has been investigated. The measurements of a total current at different voltages, applied between a liquid sample and a electrode in vacuum, has been carried out. In addition, an influence of an electrolyte concentration on the total current for the KI solution in glycerol has been studied. It is shown that a special feature of extraction of charged species from the channels of dielectric membranes is connected largely with on accumulation of charges on the vacuum surface of the polymer membrane. So, the current from dielectric membrane is controlled by several processes including formation of strong electric field near the liquid-vacuum interface, transport of ions along the channels to the interface and the field-assisted transition of charged species into vacuum.