STUDIES ON BIPOLAR MEMBRANES

Bipolar membranes are composed of two distinct layers which are select ive to ions of opposite charges. Because of this unique characteristic s, bipolar membranes are able to electrically separate water into hydr ogen and hydroxyl ions. These membranes in conjunction with convention al cation- and anion-exchange membranes in a cell stack, have been use d for the production of acids and bases from their salts. Studies have been conducted to synthesize suitable bipolar membranes from polyviny lchloride (PVC) and ion-exchange resins with or without using plastici sers. Six types of bipolar membranes have been selected for studies in a laboratory stack containing 5 cell units of bipolar, cation- and an ion-exchange membranes. Data have been collected for obtaining H2SO4 a nd NaOH from 0.5 N, 1 N and 1.5 N Na2SO4 solutions under different exp erimental conditions.