Application of ion-exchange membranes in industrial processes

Ion‐exchange membranes are used on a large scale in many commercially relevant processes such as in electrolytical and electrodialytical procedures as well as in energy conversion or storage systems. The discussion in this paper, however, is concentrated on processes using ion‐exchange membranes in mass separation. The basic concept of the processes and their advantages as well as intrinsic limitations are discussed. Processes using ion‐exchange membranes in water treatment as well as in the chemical and food industry are described in selected examples and recent improvements in membrane products and process performance are discussed.