Counterion transport numbers of poly(acrylic acid)-grafted porous ion-exchange membranes as determined from current step measurements

Abstract The effect of an electric current on the concentration polarization of the external bathing solutions and the permselectivity of poly(acrylic acid)-grafted porous ion-exchange membranes has been studied. The experimental approach is based on the transient behavior of the total electric potential drop through the membrane cell when a current step is imposed from external nonpolarizable electrodes. When this voltage drop is recorded as a function of time, a transition time characteristic of each membrane system is obtained. From this time, the counterion transport number for the salt solution (KClH2O) in the membrane can be obtained. The theoretical modeling is based on the time-dep…