The characterisation of the polyethylene‐polystyrene‐divinylbenzene interpolymer cation‐exchange membranes in the electrolysis of borax solutions

Abstract

AbstractThe synthesis and the characterization of the PE‐PS‐DVB interpolymer cationexchange membranes in the electrolysis of borax solutions to produce boric acid and sodium hydroxide simultaneously was carried out. The characterization of the teflon based “Nafion 324” and polystyrene‐DVB based “Permaplex C‐20” membranes was also performed in the same system for comparison.The DVB contents were varied between 3 – 12% (by wt. in total monomers) and the increase of the cross‐links resulted in the decrease of the water contents and ionexchange capacities of the membranes. The PE present in the membrane acted as a barrier for electroosmotic water transport. The membranes with high DVB contents showed better electrolysis performance due to their low water contents and low electroosmotic water transport properties. The use of the interpolymer membrane containing 11.6% DVB resulted in high current efficiency and high sodium cation dynamic transport number and worked satisfactorily at the process conditions of borax electrolysis.