Disclosed herein are methods of increasing the hydrophilicity of a membrane. Membranes comprising polyaniline or co- polymer thereof and one or more gel inhibiting agents are treated with one or more hydrophilicity restoration agents , thereby increasing the hydrophilicity of a membrane. Also disclosed are membranes produced by the disclosed methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.