Polysulfone (PSF) was chloromethylated using 1

4-bis(chloromethoxy)butane (BCMB) without carcinogenitic toxicity as chloromethylation reagent

resulting in chloromethylated polysulfone (CMPSF).The chemical structure of CMPSF was characterized by FTIR

1H-NMR and chemical analysis method.The effects of main factors on the chloromethylation reaction of PSF were examined.By using three tertiary amines

triethylamine (TEA)

tripropylamine (TPA) and tri-n-butylamine (TBA)

the quaternization reaction of CMPSF was carried out

respectively

and then the crosslinking reaction was performed with 4

4′-bipyridine as crosslinker

obtaining polysulfone anion-exchange membrane (PSFAEM).The main properties of PSFAEM were determined including ion-exchange capacity (IEC)

water content (WC) and membrane resistance (Rm).The experimental results show that the chloromethylation reaction of PSF with BCMB can be carried out favorably

and CMPSF with a chloromethylation degree of 1.75 mmol/g can be obtained as with chloroform as solvent and SnCl4 as Lewis catalyst.The properties of PSFAEM such as IEC

WC and Rm are closely related with quaternization time and the structure of the tertiary amine.In the same quaternization time

the anion-exchange membrane PSFAEM prepared with TEA

in whose molecule the number of carbon atom in alkyl group on N atom is small

has relatively high IEC

WC and lower Rm.As using the same tertiary amine

the IEC and WC of PSFAEM are increased with increasing the quaternization time

and Rm decreases.