Fabrication of MCDI-utilized anion exchange membrane from polyvinyl alcohol and glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride

Abstract

    Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) is an advanced desalination technology which uses a voltage between two electrodes covered with ion-exchange membranes to remove salt. Compared to the conventional CDI, MCDI demonstrated enhanced desalination performance, such as higher salt removal and better energy efficiency. In this study, the fabrication of MCDI-utilized anion exchange membrane was conducted using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC), and glutaric anhydride (GA), which helped improve the water uptake and ion conductivity properties of the membrane, as well as its desalination capability. The PVA/GTMAC/GA anion exchange membrane was proven to be an inexpensive, environmentally friendly, easy to fabricate and suitable candidate to be utilized in the MCDI systems.