Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
A Breakthrough Application of a Cross-Linked Polystyrene Anion-Exchange Membrane for a Hydrogencarbonate
Sylwia Dabrowska1, Jan Migdalski2, Andrzej Lewenstam3
1Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH-University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland. sd.dabrowska@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene and functionalized by a quaternary ammonium cation anion site is used as the membrane of a hydrogencarbonate (i.e., bicarbonate) ion-selective electrode. The polystyrene matrix membrane improves the selectivity towards interfering lipophilic ions in comparison to previously described polyvinyl chloride membranes. The reason for this behaviour is sought in coupled ion-exchange and pore-diffusion processes in the membrane and the resulting kinetic discrimination of interfering ions. The electrode is successfully used for determination of bicarbonates in mineral drinking waters. The simplex method is employed to refine the analytical outcome.
Related Concept Videos
Ion Exchange
Ion-Exchange Chromatography
Precipitation of Ions
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
Potentiometry: Membrane Electrodes
Ions and Ionic Charges
Ions as Acids and Bases
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:

