Hydroxide exchange membranes properties

Xu, S. Zhang, G. Zhang, Y Zhao, C. Ma, W. Sun, H. Zhang, N. Zhang, L. Jiang, H. Na, H., Synthesis and properties of a novel side-chain-type hydroxide exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Journal of Power Sources 2012, 209, 228-235. 

In addition to the monopolar membrane described above a large number of special property membranes are used in various applications such as low-fouling anion-exchange membranes used in certain wastewater treatment applications or composite membranes with a thin layer of weakly dissociated carboxylic acid groups on the surface used in the chlorine-alkaline production, and bipolar membranes composed of a laminate of an anion- and a cation-exchange layer used in the production of protons and hydroxide ions to convert a salt in the corresponding acids and bases. The preparation techniques are described in detail in numerous publications [13-15]. 

The effect of NaOH concentration on the ion transport and rheological properties of the Nafion ion exchange membranes may be attributable to some variation in the ionic domain structure in the presence of NaOH. Therefore, it is extremely Important to understand the ionic domain structure under these conditions. The anomalous behavior of Na" " ion transport as a function of NaOH concentration is seen more frequently in bilayer Nafion membranes in which one layer is treated with diamine and also in perfluorinated carboxylic ion exchange membranes. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain their ion transport results including water absorption, transport of hydroxide ion tunneling, ion pairing mechanisms, etc. (54-56). As the ion transport properties are beyond the scope of this review, no detailed discussion will be presented. 

The measurement and control of transport properties for ion exchange membranes is the key element in optimizing the operating conditions for modern chlor-alkali membrane cells. Ideally, a membrane should allow a large anolyte-catholyte sodium ion flux under load, while at the same time the hydroxide ion and water fluxes are kept minimal. Under these conditions, high current efficiency and low membrane resistance can be realized simultaneously in a cell producing concentrated caustic and chlorine gas. 

A composite membrane prepared, e.g., by lamination of a cation exchange membrane with an anion exchange membrane, called a bipolar ion exchange membrane, shows interesting properties, for example water splitting to generate hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions at the interface of both membranes in electrodialysis, or a rectifier effect.110 When the current is passed from one direction. 

It was the development of ion-exchange membranes which opened a new era in brine electrolysis. These membranes have the extraordinary property of allowing the passage of electrolytic current and yet almost completely preventing the mixing of the hydroxide formed in one compartment of the electrolytic cell with brine introduced as raw material into the other compartment. Hence, a "membrane cell" could be developed for large scale industrial electrolysis, giving satisfactory quality of products without environmental hazard. This is likely to make the "mercury cell" vanish as the enormous investment into new installations pays off. 

The CFS hollow fiber suppressor (see Section 3.4.3) that was developed for cation exchange chromatography can also be applied to cation analysis via ion-pair chromatography. It features good solvent stability and sufficient membrane transport properties for the anionic ion-pair reagent. This suppressor is regenerated with tetramethylam-monium hydroxide using a concentration of c = 0.04 mol/L. 

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