Abstract
Cation– and anion– exchange membranes, used for the concentration of seawater, were prepared by an electronbeam– induced graft polymerization method (EB method). An ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) film, which is a commercially available polymeric film, was selected for use as the base film. The EB method consists of three main phases. The first involves electron beam irradiation. The second involves graft polymerization. The third involves the introduction of an ion–exchange group. We found that the concentration performance of the ion– exchange membrane prepared by the electron–beam–induced graft polymerization method was better than that of a commercially available membrane. To provide a method for producing our membrane industrially, we manufactured producing apparatus. The concentrating performance of the ion exchange membranes producing used by our apparatus was better than that of a commercially available membrane and maintained for 140 days.
