A versatile chemistry platform for the fabrication of cost-effective hierarchical cation and anion exchange membranes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2022.115794
• Publication Date: 2022-05-02T16:23:13Z
• Authors: Francesco Deboli; Bart Van der Bruggen; Mateusz L. Donten
• Keywords: Technology; Engineering, Chemical; Science & Technology; Desalination; Composite ion exchange membrane; Hierarchical ion exchange membrane; Electrodialysis; PERFORMANCE; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences; WATER DESALINATION; Engineering; IMPROVED DIMENSIONAL STABILITY; ELECTRODIALYSIS; Physical Sciences; UV curing; Water Resources; Ion exchange membrane

This work presents a versatile chemistry platform for the fabrication of hierarchical cation and anion exchange membranes (hCEMs hAEMs) with tuneable transport properties. A strong focus was put onto developing cost-effective fabricated through sustainable easily scalable process, performance at least as good industry standard materials. Hierarchical ion were by coating UV crosslinking an acrylic ionomer on top PVC-SiO2 porous substrate. Membrane samples different density tested application in electrodialysis-desalination. The properties hCEMs found to be strongly dependant density: hCEM crosslinked showed selectivity 88% (electrical resistance 6.15 Ω.cm2), while one most 97% 11.02 Ω.cm2). similar trend observed hAEMs which increase from 94% (increase electrical 5.22 Ω.cm2 6.44 best performing hIEMs allowed reach ED current efficiency high 93.3% final desalination 56% (commercial reference: 94.5%, 59%).