Electromembrane from polyelectrolyte complex of polyaniline and carboxymethylcellulose

Abstract

A Composite membrane of polyaniline and carboxymethylcellulose has been prepared. The polyaniline in the membrane exists in the conducting state even at <em>p</em>H as high as 6.5, due to the Donnan effect. At high ionic strength, the polyaniline changes to the nonconducting state, but the rate is slow enough to make application of the membrane at high <em>p</em>H possible. It has been shown that the degree of protonation of polyaniline changes the permeability of the membrane. Further, we have proposed that for composites like polyaniline-carboxymethylcellulose, the permeability can be changed by changing the oxidation state of the conducting polymer, thereby changing the crosslinking between the polymer components.