This study reports the fabrication and application of low-cost polyvinyl chloride/activated carbon (PVC/AC) composite ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) in a dual-function electrodialysis metathesis (EDM) system designed for simultaneous water desalination and chemical synthesis. The IEMs were fabricated using a solution-casting method by incorporating AC into a PVC matrix at three concentrations: 0, 2, and 4wt%. The resulting membranes were carefully characterized in terms of water uptake, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, area resistance (AR), and mechanical strength. The effects of AC content in IEMs, applied voltage, initial concentration configurations (ICCs) in the anode, cathode, and desalination chambers, and operational duration on desalination efficiency, monopotassium glutamate (MPG) production yield, current efficiency, and energy consumption were systematically evaluated. Increasing the activated carbon content enhanced membrane hydrophobicity, reflecting activated carbon's inherent hydrophobic nature. Optimal performance was achieved with PVC/AC containing 2 wt% AC under ICC conditions favoring higher electrolyte concentrations in the electrode chambers, resulting in the highest MPG yield (23.14%), lower energy consumption (25.87 <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$\mathrm{k}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{h}/{\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">k</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mo stretchy="false">/</mo> <mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">k</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi> </mrow> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>), and improved current efficiency (5.59%). In contrast, increasing the applied voltage led to higher energy consumption, decreased current efficiency, and reduced salt removal efficiency. Maximum salt removal was achieved at 5 V when equal electrolyte concentrations were maintained in all three compartments (ICC1). The highest salt removal rate (40 g m⁻2 h⁻1) was observed at an increased voltage of 10 V under ICC3 conditions, where the desalination chamber concentration was higher than that of the anode and cathode chambers. The PVC/AC composite IEMs demonstrated excellent mechanical robustness, chemical resistance, processability, and durability, alongside tunable porosity. These attributes highlight their suitability for scalable, cost-effective deployment in membrane-based systems for water treatment and resource recovery. The integration of desalination with MPG production further underscores their potential for sustainable environmental and industrial applications. Graphical Abstract

Cost-Effective PVC/AC Ion-Exchange Membranes for Electrodialysis Metathesis-Based Water Desalination and Integrated Chemical Production

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年5月30日

查看全文

M. M. Behvand Usefi,
M. Mohsennia,
M. Sedighi

摘要

This study reports the fabrication and application of low-cost polyvinyl chloride/activated carbon (PVC/AC) composite ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) in a dual-function electrodialysis metathesis (EDM) system designed for simultaneous water desalination and chemical synthesis. The IEMs were fabricated using a solution-casting method by incorporating AC into a PVC matrix at three concentrations: 0, 2, and 4wt%. The resulting membranes were carefully characterized in terms of water uptake, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, area resistance (AR), and mechanical strength. The effects of AC content in IEMs, applied voltage, initial concentration configurations (ICCs) in the anode, cathode, and desalination chambers, and operational duration on desalination efficiency, monopotassium glutamate (MPG) production yield, current efficiency, and energy consumption were systematically evaluated. Increasing the activated carbon content enhanced membrane hydrophobicity, reflecting activated carbon's inherent hydrophobic nature. Optimal performance was achieved with PVC/AC containing 2 wt% AC under ICC conditions favoring higher electrolyte concentrations in the electrode chambers, resulting in the highest MPG yield (23.14%), lower energy consumption (25.87 $\mathrm{k}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{h}/{\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}$ $k W h / k g$ ), and improved current efficiency (5.59%). In contrast, increasing the applied voltage led to higher energy consumption, decreased current efficiency, and reduced salt removal efficiency. Maximum salt removal was achieved at 5 V when equal electrolyte concentrations were maintained in all three compartments (ICC1). The highest salt removal rate (40 g m⁻² h⁻¹) was observed at an increased voltage of 10 V under ICC3 conditions, where the desalination chamber concentration was higher than that of the anode and cathode chambers. The PVC/AC composite IEMs demonstrated excellent mechanical robustness, chemical resistance, processability, and durability, alongside tunable porosity. These attributes highlight their suitability for scalable, cost-effective deployment in membrane-based systems for water treatment and resource recovery. The integration of desalination with MPG production further underscores their potential for sustainable environmental and industrial applications.

Graphical Abstract