A sodium alginate (SA)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-chitosan (CS) bipolar membrane (BPM) was prepared by a paste method with PVA, SA, and CS as starting materials and modified by Fe3+ and GA as a crosslinking agent. The morphology, functional groups, and physical properties of the film were studied by scanning electron microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and tensile testing, respectively. The SA-PVA-CS BPM was used as a separator in the electrolysis cell for electrogenerated ferrate(VI). The results show that the SA-PVA-CS BPM possessed reasonable physical and electrochemical properties. The SA-PVA-CS BPM not only prevented ferrate(VI) from diffusing into the cathode room but also played an important role in the supply of OH- consumed during the electrogenerated ferrate(VI) process. Compared with the traditional method of preparing ferrate(VI), electrodialysis with the BPM (SA-PVA-CS) had the further advantage of lower alkali and energy consumption. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.