Polyaniline‐Coated Conductive Membranes for Lead Removal From Water via Electrodialysis

The contamination of water by Pb 2+ ions poses serious environmental and health risks, especially in regions with aging infrastructure and industrial activity. This study explores the removal of Pb 2+ from water using cation exchange membranes (CEMs) made by doping polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with sulfonated polystyrene–divinylbenzene (SPS–DVB) resin and coating them with polyaniline (PANI) via in situ polymerization for varying durations. Electrodialysis (ED) was used to evaluate the membranes’ performance. Uncoated CEMs removed 33.94% of Pb 2+ ions via ED. PANI coating enhanced performance, with efficiency increasing with longer coating times. After 2, 8, 16, and 24 h of coating, ED efficiencies rose to 38.19%, 43.18%, 52.96%, and 60.31%, respectively. Comprehensive characterization of the prepared membranes was carried out to assess their chemical structure, morphology, particle distribution, and electrical behavior. Spectroscopic analysis (FTIR), microscopic imaging (SEM), particle size evaluation, and conductivity measurements using a four‐point probe setup were employed. Additionally, the ion exchange capacity and hydration characteristics were quantified. The results indicate that longer PANI coating times improve the Pb 2+ ion separation efficiency in ED operations. This study suggests that PANI‐coated CEMs provide an effective, cost‐efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for Pb 2+ ion separation from wastewater, with potential applications in heavy metal removal from industrial effluents.