Abstract
Cation-exchange membranes made exclusively from ceramic materials have been synthesized by means of the impregnation of
microporous ceramic supports with zirconium phosphate. Changes in the pore size distribution and total pore volume of the supports
were provoked by the addition of starch as pore former in the fabrication procedure. This allowed the production of supports with
increased effective electrical conductivities and with larger pores available for the zirconium phosphate deposition. An improved
functionality for the exchange of cations was given to the ceramic membranes by means of their impregnation with the active particles of
zirconium phosphate. The ion-exchange properties of the membranes were increased with further impregnation cycles and the resulting
currentvoltage curves showed a similar shape to that typical of commercial polymeric ion-exchange membranes. The production of ionexchange
membranes with increased chemical and radiation stability will broaden their applicability for the treatment of specific
industrial waste waters, which are very aggressive for the current commercial ion-exchange membranes.
