Ion Exchange Membrane

As a leading partner in the laboratory filtration, separation and purification industry, Alfa Chemistry provides a wide range of products and services to customers in many countries/regions. Ion exchange membranes are among the options we offer for filter membranes. Bipolar membranes are the most in-demand ion exchange membranes among our customers, and we want to make sure they remain so.

Ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) are conductive, semi-permeable membranes consisting of polymer backbones to which charged groups are attached. Ions can move from one solution to another through an exchange membrane with little or no passage of water. IEM has been widely used in seawater desalination, industrial wastewater treatment, food and beverage production, and other fields. An ideal IEM should have high electrical conductivity, low surface resistance, suitable ion exchange capacity, high selectivity, suitable swelling degree and water absorption, as well as high chemical, good mechanical and thermal stability.

IEM Types

The common types of IEM include cation exchange membrane (CEM), anion exchange membrane (AEM), and some special types of IEM, such as proton exchange membrane (PEM), and bipolar membrane (BPM).

• Cation Exchange Membrane

It refers to an exchange membrane that only allows cations to pass through selectively.

• Anion Exchange Membrane

It refers to an exchange membrane that allows anions to pass through selectively. Permselectivity is a key parameter for CEMs and AEMs, which indicates how well the membrane discriminates between oppositely charged ions. In general, membrane selective permeability is strongly influenced by membrane properties such as water absorption.

• Proton Exchange Membrane

PEM is the core component of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), which plays a key role in battery performance. It not only separates reactants, but also transports protons while blocking a direct electronic pathway through the membrane. PEMs are primarily characterized by proton conductivity (σ), methanol permeability (P), and thermal stability.

• Bipolar Membrane

Bipolar membrane (BPM) is a new type of ion exchange composite membrane, composed of cation and anion-exchange layers. Under a direct current electric field, the charged ions in the solution selectively pass through the BPM to generate protons (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). Based on this, BPM in electrochemical cells has become a well-established method for acid-base generation and desalination. The use of BPMs to generate acids and bases has obvious advantages over traditional processes, such as low energy consumption, no side reaction products, and no pollution. Due to their unique properties, BPMs are used in various applications in many fields, such as the (bio)chemical industry, food processing, environmental protection, and energy conversion and storage, among others ^[1].

Product List

Please click on the link below for product details.

As a professional filtration membrane product supplier, Alfa Chemistry provides you with the above-mentioned high-quality products. Depending on your needs, we can also provide corresponding service support. We invite you to select and purchase, and if you have any concerns, feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Pärnamäe, R.; et al. Bipolar membranes: A review on principles, latest developments, and applications. Journal of Membrane Science. 2021, 617: 118538.