Ion-exchange membranes: preparative methods for electrodialysis and fuel cell applications

Ion-exchange membranes have been used in various industrial processes, e.g., in the electrodialytic concentration of seawater to produce edible salt, as a separator for electrolysis, in the desalination of saline water by electrodialysis, in the separation of ionic materials from non-ionic materials by electrodialysis, in the recovery of acid and alkali from waste acid and alkali solution by diffusion dialysis, in the dehydration of water-miscible organic solvent by pervaporation, etc. Thus, various ion-exchange membranes have been developed according to their requirements. At the same time, various functions have been required from the ion-exchange membranes. Therefore, this review comprises various methods for the preparations of ion-exchange membranes used in electrodialysis and fuel cell applications.