Perchlorate permselective membranes were synthesized and characterized in this study. The membrane with a thickness of similar to 300 mu m was prepared with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and quaternary ammonium salts in solvent under room temperature. Among the 12 different quaternary ammonium salts, methyltributylammonium chloride (MTBA) showed superior perchlorate permselectivity due to in part to the favorable steric effect of the alkyl chain length. In addition, results from contact angle measurements indicated that modification with quaternary ammonium salts rendered the membranes hydrophobic. Results from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum analysis showed that the functional groups responsible for ion exchange were incorporated in the membrane matrix successfully. The surface roughness, averaged pore radius and ion exchange capacity of the MTBA membrane were 3.23 +/- 2.58 (nm), 83.6 (angstrom) and 0.12 (meq/g), respectively. The rate constants of anions transport across the membranes were calculated. In the presence of an electric field, about 60% of perchlorate was separated from the solution while only less than 9% of other anions, specifically, nitrate, sulfate and bicarbonate passed through the membrane under otherwise identical operation conditions simultaneously. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,