Transport phenomena of aniline through Na +-, K § and Cs § of a perfluorosulfonate ion-exchange membrane, Nation | 117, under a flow of de current, electrotransportation, were investigated. In each form, an increase in transport number of aniliniumeation was observed in the current density range from 0.3 to 1.3 mA em -2. The transport number of the anilinium cation in Cs § was larger than that expected from the concentration and diffusion coefficient of the anitinium cation in Cs~-form Nafion. These aniline transport phenomena may be attributable to a structural change of Nafion or a decrease in hydrophobic interaction between the anilinium cation and Nation caused by the flow of de current.A commercially available perfluorosulfonate cation-exchange membrane, Nafion, is chemically and thermally stable, and applied to various processes such as electrolytic cells, ~' 2 polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells, 3 sensors, ~ batteries, 5'6 and cells for organic synthesis] Results reported on its structure ~ and transport properties l'~-n reveal that Nation is microscopically separated into two phases: an ionic cluster domain, which contains most of the sulfonate groups, cations, and sorbed water, and a hydrophobic backbone domain similar to that of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which surrounds the ionic cluster. This characteristic structure gives Nation peculiar and interesting properties in swelling, ion-exchange selectivity, etc.While organic cations reportedly interact strongly with the hydrophobic microdomain in Nafion, 12"is few studies have been reported on the permeation of organic compounds through Nafion. ~4<6 Previously, we have reported the effects of various alkali cations on permeation phenomena of aniline through Nafion in the presence of a concentration gradient across a Nafion membrane) 7 The apparent diffusion coefficients of anilinium cation and neutral aniline were determined, and it was found that they are strongly affected by the water content of the Nafion membrane. However, the permeation behavior of anilinium cation under application of dc current needs clarification. Research on the permeation behavior of organic species under current passage, electrotransportation, gives useful information on the perm selectivity of Nation and hydrophobic interaction between organic species and Nafion. Here, our attention was focused on the eleetrotransportation of aniline through Nation 117 (equivalent weight: EW = 1100).
ExperimentalMembrane treatments.--A perfluorosulfonate cationexchange membrane, Nafion 117, was used in this study. Nation samples in H+-form (3 cm in diameter in the dry * Electrochemical Society Active Member.
Table I. Composition of source and receiver solutions.state) were pretreated in boiling water for more than 1 h. The sample was then soaked in a source solution shown in Table I for ca. 24 h in the dark at 35~During this treatment, swelling and ion exchange between the Nafion and the source solution were brought into equilibrium.Measuring eeII.--The permeation measurements under ...