The technique of equilibrium dialysis has been used to study water and salt binding to egg albumin, to human carbon monoxide hemoglobin, and to bovine serum albumin. The salts used were CsCl, KCl, NaCl, LiCl, Gu·HCl, NaBr, Cs2SO4, K2SO4, Na2SO4, Li2SO4, and Gu2SO4. The amount of water bound by proteins depends on the probe being used. Sulfates tend to bind to proteins and they also increase the water binding. At saturation, about 41 and 140 mol Gu·HCl bind to 1 mol egg albumin and to 1 mol carbon monoxide hemoglobin, respectively. Both proteins are dehydrated by Gu·HCl.
The hydrodynamic hydration of egg albumin as determined by viscosity appers to increase as the relative viscosity of the medium increases.