Anion exchange membranes were prepared in the laboratory by polymerizing chloromethyl styrene with the crosslinking reagent divinylbenzene, coated on polypropylene nonwoven fabric using the paste method, and then immobilized with trimethyl and tributyl amine in a quaternarization process. The properties of these membranes were characterized in terms of ion-exchange capacity and SEM image. The kinetics of allylation of phenol was also investigated in an organic and alkaline aqueous solution in a vertical membrane reactor. The operating conditions, such as reaction temperature, kind of membrane (two laboratory- and one commercially prepared), and concentration ratio of reactants were established to achieve the optimum condition. (C) 2008 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.