Simple Method to Prepare Network Structure Anion Exchange Membranes for Acid Recovery via Diffusion Dialysis in the Construction Industry

ABSTRACT In this study, a novel poly(AMIM‐co‐AC) (PAMIMAC) copolymer was successfully synthesized through copolymerization of 1‐allyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (AMIM) and acrolein (AC); a series of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with network structures were fabricated through an efficient solvent casting method by blending varying proportions of PAMIMAC with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ethylene‐vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The resulting membranes underwent comprehensive characterization employing 1 H NMR, FTIR, XPS, SEM, and AFM techniques to elucidate their chemical composition and morphological features. Systematic evaluation revealed excellent dimensional stability, acid resistance, mechanical stability, and thermal stability, along with favorable water absorption rates and competitive ion exchange capacities. Notably, in diffusion dialysis (DD) performance tests, the optimized membranes demonstrated superior proton permeability coefficients (U H + ) (U H + = 14.2–42.3 × 10 −3 m/h) and separation factors (S = 63–27) compared to the commercial DF‐120 membrane (U H + = 9 × 10 −3 m/h, S = 18). This remarkable enhancement in both permeability‐selectivity and operational stability positions these PAMIMAC‐based AEMs as promising candidates for practical separation applications. The combination of straightforward fabrication methodology, stable physicochemical properties, and exceptional DD performance suggests significant potential for industrial implementation in acid recovery processes and related membrane‐based separation technologies.