Rotational electrolyte friction on non-spherical polyions

✍ Scribed by M. Hernández-Contreras; M. Medina-Noyola; O. Alarcón-Waess

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 462 KB
• Volume: 256
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2614(96)00476-9

✦ Synopsis

Here we present an approximate theory, based on the generalized Langevin equation approach to tracer diffusion, which describes the electrolyte friction effects on the rotational diffusion coefficient of non-spherical polyions of axially symmetric (but otherwise arbitrary) shape and charge distribution. This theory is applied to a simple model polyion, a prolate ellipsoid with a linear charge distribution along the line between its foci. The results are compared with the corresponding results for the translational diffusion coefficient. Quantitative predictions are discussed for a concrete experimental system, namely, tobacco mosaic virus in aqueous solution at infinite dilution but variable ionic strength.