Transport of Cu(II) ions through polysulfonated cation-exchange membranes under Donnan dialysis conditions was studied as a function of the pH gradient. The used charged membranes are homogeneous (polysulfone composition) and heterogeneous (polysulfone with polyester support) structures which are strongly acidic cation-exchange microporous-type membranes. The flux increases with decreasing of the pH gradient, which is influenced by the transport of copper ions. The quantitative relations were obtained which describe the time dependence of the transport system with the equilibrium distribution and the results were correlated with the flux data as well as with the membrane structure. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.