Two-Compartment Modeling


Class: BE310
Group: M1
Members: Matthew DeNardo, Nicholas Fawzi, Courtney Morgan, Angela Xavier

Date: May 2002

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Abstract:
A two-compartment model of KCl solutions was created and compared to mass balance mathematical models for the concentration of KCl in each compartment.  Flow between the compartments was modeled for steady-flow and sinusoidal-flow cases.  Plots of analytical equations predicting the concentration in each compartment were compared by visual inspection as well as by taking the mean difference and mean percent difference between the theoretical and actual concentrations.  For both conditions, the actual and theoretical curves had the same shape and time decay.  For steady flow, the mean percent difference in concentration between experimental and mathematical model was 0.44% for compartment 1, and 2.7% for compartment 2.  For sinusoidal flow, the mean percent difference was 4.5% for compartment 1 and 3.8% for compartment 2. Based on the resulting low mean percent differences, this modeling of a two-compartment system with mathematical equations was determined to be accurate.  By varying the conditions of the mathematical model, it was determined that the peak concentration in compartment 2 is linearly proportional to the initial concentration in compartment 1 and inversely related to the volume of compartment 2 by a multi-term logarithmic function.  These mathematical models can now be applied to modeling biological systems such as drug delivery and lactation.