Preliminary Study on the Characterization and Preparation of Quaternary Ammonium Membrane

Four kinds of anion exchange membranes were prepared by polymerizing the chloromethylstyrene cross-linking reagent of divinylbenzene with a coating on polypropylene nonwoven fabric using the paste method, and then immobilized with trimethyl (triethyl, tripropyl, or tributyl) amine in the quaternarization process. The properties of these membranes were characterized in terms of thickness, ion-exchange capacity, imbibed water content, and degree of swelling. The kinetics of allylation of phenol was investigated in the organic and alkali aqueous solutions in the vertical and horizontal membrane reactors. The operating conditions, such as agitation rate, reaction temperature, immobilization temperature, seven kinds of catalysts (four labproduced and two commercial membranes, one resin), and concentration ratio of reactants were conducted to achieve the optimum condition. The methylamine membrane as a phase-transfer catalyst was the best choice catalyst for the higher yield of allyl phenyl ether among six ammonium membranes. However, the butylamine membrane showed the best reactivity among the six membranes.