Anion exchange membranes from hot-pressed electrospun QPPO–SiO2 hybrid nanofibers for acid recovery

• QPPO–SiO2 nanofibers with uniform structure were fabricated by electrospinning.
• AEMs were prepared from QPPO–SiO2 nanofibers followed by post-treatment.
• As-prepared membranes were qualified for the acid recovery.
• Electrospun membranes exhibit better DD performance than the casting one.

To improve the efficiency of acid recovery by diffusion dialysis, novel anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have been fabricated from quaternized poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/Silicon dioxide hybrid material (QPPO–SiO2) by electrospinning and post-treatment (solvent fumigation and hot-press). While being used in a simulated iron polishing waste solution containing 1 mol/L HCl, and 0.225 mol/L FeCl2, the membrane exhibits both higher acid permeability (UH, 0.053 m/h) and selectivity (S, 68.05) in comparison with the direct casting QPPO–SiO2 hybrid membrane, of which possess relatively lower values of UH (0.041 m/h) and S (49.45). Besides, compared with commercial DF-120 membrane (UH=0.005–0.009 m/h, and S=18.5–23.5), hot-pressed electrospun QPPO–SiO2 membrane shows more than approx.7 times higher UH and approx.3 times higher S values underling its advantage in DD application.

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