Synthesis and characterization of commercial cation exchange membranes modified electrochemically by polypyrrole: Effect of synthesis conditions on the transport properties

•Electrochemical modification of commercial cation exchange membranes with polypyrrole.•Effect of electrosynthesis conditions of polypyrrole deposition in transport proprieties.•Modulation of characteristic of polypyrrol by electrosynthesis conditions of deposition in membranes.•Influence of polypyrrole modification in transport number of Na+ and Mg2 +.

Herein, we report the galvanostatic modification of a commercial cation exchange membrane CMX by polypyrrole (Ppy). The presence of Ppy in the cation exchange membrane (CEM) was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, stereo microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray. Ppy was present both on the membrane surface and inside the pores. The quantity of Ppy in CEM, compactness of Ppy, and the charges on Ppy (negative or positive) were controlled effectively by changing the electrosynthesis conditions. The permeability and water content of the modified membranes obtained under different conditions were investigated. The transport properties of the modified CEMs were evaluated qualitatively using polarization curves and quantitatively by chronopotentiometry. NaCl and MgCl2 solutions ranging in concentrations from 5 mM to 0.1 M were used for testing the selectivity. The presence of Ppy in the membranes decreased the transport number of Na and Mg, and the reduction in transport number was more significant for Mg.