TABLE OF CONTENTS The separation of substances by membranes is essential in industry and human life. Of the various separation membranes, the ion exchange membrane is one of the most advanced and is widely used in various industrial fields: electrodialysis, diffusion dialysis, separator and solid polymer electrolyte in electrolysis, separator and solid polymer electrolyte of various batteries, sensing materials, medical use, a part of analytical chemistry, etc.
The ion exchange membrane originated from two different sources: the finding of ion exchange phenomena in soil and in explaining biological phenomena in cell membranes. The ion exchange phenomenon was found by the English agriculturist, H.P. Thompson [1] and the chemist J.T. Way [2] in 1850, who noted the adsorption of ammonium sulfate on soil as follows,
Their finding led to the synthesis of inorganic ion exchangers (aluminosilicate compounds). [3] , [4] Subsequently, the English chemists, B.A. Adams and E.L. Holmes synthesized organic cation and anion exchange resins by the condensation reaction of phenolic compounds having ionic groups and formaldehyde. [5] D'Alelio developed polymerization type ion exchange resins and laid the basis of today's ion exchange resins. [6]
Studies on ion permeable membranes, collodion type membranes, were carried out by L. Michaelis. [7] He recognized the effect of charge in the membrane on ion permeation through the membrane. [8] In 1939, K.H. Meyer, J.F. Sievers [9] and T. Teorell [10] proposed a theory of membrane potential. The modified collodion membrane was the first charged artificial membrane.
