Electrolytes Diffusion through Modified PVA Hydrogel Membrane

Abstract

During or after synthesis through the freeze-thaw technique, poly(vinyl alcohol) [PVA] hydrogel membranes were subjected to different physical or chemical treatments in order to study the diffusion of NaCl and KCl in comparison to the PVA hydrogel membrane. The structure modifications have been made by inserting chitosan in the PVA solution before the freeze-thawing process or by treating the hydrogel membrane after synthesis with an ethyl alcohol solution, boric acid, oxidizing mixture, or by compounding PVA hydrogel with Cu2+. The results show promising possibilities to tailor the membrane permittivity and transport properties.