A STUDY ON THE PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF THE HETEROGENEOUS CATION-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES OF SULFONATED POLYSTYRENE DIVINYL BENZENE ON AN ACETAL BASE

The heterogeneous acetal-based membranes containing 50, 60, 70, 80, an d 90% (w/w) of the sulfonated polystyrene crosslinked with 7% divinyl benzene were fabricated and studied. In addition, the heterogeneous ac etal-based membranes of 85% (w/w) sulfonated polystyrene crosslinked w ith 1, 4, and 7% divinyl benzene were also prepared and studied. The g el water content, dimensional stability, ion-exchange capacity, area a nd specific ohmic resistance, permselectivity, and rate of ion exchang e of the acetal-based membranes were determined. The sulfonated polyst yrene crosslinked with 7% divinyl benzene resin was found to be the be tter material for preparing the acetal-based membrane with comparable good characteristics. A commercially available heterogeneous membrane (Shanghai Chemicals, 3361) of dry-molding sulfonated polystyrene-divin yl benzene resin was used as the reference membrane for the present in vestigation. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.