Preparation of ion-exchange materials and membranes

Electro-membrane processes are successfully applied in desalination of sea and brackish water, waste water treatment, chemical process industry, and food and pharmaceutical industry. Key compound is the ion-exchange membrane, which enables the selective transport of ions. The intention of this paper is to briefly review synthetic aspects in the development of new ion-exchange materials for both anion-exchange and cation-exchange purposes. •Methods for preparation of anion- and cation-exchange materials are reviewed.•Fuel cells are one driving force for development of stable anion-exchange materials.•Cation-exchange materials for mid-temperature operation are available on lab-scale.•Cost reduction in fuel cell technology by the use of anion-exchange materials