TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Components: The electro-deionization assembly comprises at least two membranes, where at least one membrane is a cation-exchange membrane, an anion-exchange membrane or bipolar membrane.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The block B1 comprises: 25-80 mol.% of the functional group; segments of at least one vinyl aromatic monomer which is polymerized (i) unsubstituted styrene monomer, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomer, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomer, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene and/or (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene. The modified sulfonated block copolymer has a general configuration of A1-B1-A1, A1-B1-A1-B1-A1, (A1-B1-A1)nX, (A1-B1)nX, A1-D1-B1-D1-A1, A1-B1-D1-B1-A1, (A1-D1-B1)nX and/or (A1-B1-D1)nX. Each block D1 is (a1) a polymerized or copolymerized conjugated diene of isoprene or 1,3-butadiene that has a vinyl content of 20-80 mol.%, prior to hydrogenation (a2) a polymerized acrylate monomer, (a3) a silicon polymer and/or (a4) polymerized isobutylene, where any segment containing polymerized 1,3-butadiene or isoprene are subsequently hydrogenated. The membrane or film is obtained by: providing a composition that comprises the modified sulfonated block copolymer in a liquid phase that comprises at least one aprotic organic solvent; casting the composition; and evaporating the liquid phase. The cation-exchange membrane comprises the sulfonated block copolymer. The substrate is a natural or synthetic, woven and/or non-woven material.n = 2-30;X = coupling agent residue; andD1 block = a polymer block resistant to sulfonation. Preferred Definitions:    R2 = H, alkyl or -(A1-NR1a)xR1b;    x = 0-1; and    A1, A2 = straight chain alkylene.    EXAMPLE - Anionic polymerization of the tert-butyl styrene in cyclohexane was initiated using sec-butyllithium to obtain an A block. Isoprene monomers were then added to afford a second block (para-tert-butylstyrene-isoprene-lithium) (v1). Styrene monomer was added to (v1) diblock copolymer solution and was polymerized to obtain a living triblock copolymer (para-tert-butylstyrene-isoprene-styrene-lithium). Isoprene monomer was added to give tetrablock copolymer structure (para-tertbutylstyrene-isoprene-styrene-isoprene-lithium). Para-tert butyl styrene monomer was added, and polymerization was terminated by adding methanol to obtain a para-tert-butylstyrene block. The para-tert-butylstyrene-isoprene-styrene-isoprene-para-tert-butylstyrene was hydrogenated using cobalt(II)/triethylaluminum. The resulting block polymer was sulfonated using iso-butyric anhydride/sulfuric acid. The resulting hydrogenated block copolymer solution was diluted to 10% of solids by the addition of heptane. Iso-butyric anhydride and sulfuric acid (1/1 (mol/mol)) were added to give sulfonated polystyrene functionality per g of block copolymer (2 meq). Sulfonation reaction was terminated by the addition of ethanol (2 mol) to give sulfonated block copolymer. The resulting solution of sulfonated polymer had a solids level of about 10% wt/wt in a mixture of heptane, cyclohexane, and ethyl iso-butyrate.