Effect of chemical modification of ion-exchange membrane MA-40 on its electrochemical characteristics

Abstract

Transport characteristics of commercial heterogeneous anion-exchange membranes MA-40 and MA-41 are studied, together with those of membrane MA-40M fabricated by treating the MA-40 surfaces with a strong polyelectrolyte complex. It is demonstrated that, after modification, the electrical conductivity of MA-40M in an NaOH solution increases. At overlimiting currents, the water dissociation rate on this membrane decreases as compared with the initial membrane. At the same time, no noticeable change in the rate of transport of counter-ions (ions Cl-) through the membrane at a fixed potential drop is discovered at under-and overlimiting currents. The MA-40M membrane behavior is explained by the conversion of secondary and tertiary functional ammonium groups in the near-surface membrane layers approximately 80 μm thick into quaternary groups during the treatment by the polyelectrolyte.