Process for making a monomer solution for making cation exchange membranes

摘要

A method of making a monomer solution of styrene sulfonic acid or the pyridine salt of styrene sulfonic acid or mixtures of both in an organic solvent, said solution being suitable for producing cation exchange membranes. The method comprises the steps of dissolving a metal salt of styrene sulfonate in said organic solvent and pyridinium styrene sulfonate. The mixture solution is reacted under conditions that generate a salt byproduct precipitate and the reactant product solution is collected. Embodiments of the present invention provide for cation exchange membranes and processes for their manufacture. Membranes made by the processes described herein combine low resistance and high permselectivity which make them highly effective for membrane components in desalination of water by electrodialysis (ED), as a power generating sources in reverse electrodialysis and as separators in fuels cells.

主权项

1. A process for producing a cation exchange membrane, comprising:
forming a first suspension of a metal salt of styrene sulfonate in an organic solvent; adding pyridinium chloride to said first suspension to form a second suspension; promoting a reaction in the second suspension to form a metal chloride byproduct precipitate and a monomer solution of styrene sulfonic acid, or a pyridine salt of styrene sulfonic acid, or a mixture of both styrene sulfonic acid and a pyridine salt of styrene sulfonic acid, in said organic solvent; collecting the monomer solution; providing a porous substrate; saturating porous regions of the substrate with a solution comprising the monomer solution, a crosslinking monomer, and a polymerization initiator; removing excess solution from the saturated porous substrate; and initiating polymerization to form a crosslinked ion transferring polymer in the porous regions of the substrate.