A membrane is considered the heart of every separation process because it is developed as a nanostructured/nanofunctionalized thin barrier that controls the exchange between two phases, not only by external forces and under the effect of fluid properties, but also through the intrinsic characteristics of the membrane material itself. This book compiles cutting-edge research in membrane science, nanomaterials, and nanotechnologies, mainly from interdisciplinary research groups at the Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council (ITM-CNR), Italy, working on membrane design, membrane process engineering, and selected materials and practices for enhanced transport mass, charge, and energy. It covers topics on the design of new nanostructured membranes with improved properties, together with the identification of efficient transport-property relationships. It shares and strengthens the knowledge of making membrane technology a much more powerful and eco-friendly route, enabling one to provide prospective solutions and benefits for numerous fields of applications where traditional separation technologies suffer from many deficiencies. It is a great reference for researchers and investigators; graduate, PhD, and postgraduate students; and end users interested in membrane science and technology, nanomaterials, eco-friendly separation, chemistry, biology, and process engineering.
About the Author: Enrico Drioli is emeritus professor at the School of Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy; WCU distinguished visiting professor, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea; and distinguished adjunct professor at the Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. His research activities focus on membrane science and engineering, including membranes in artificial organs; integrated membrane processes; membrane preparation, transport phenomena, distillation, and contactors; and catalytic membranes and their reactors.
Lidietta Giorno has been director of the ITM-CNR since 2009. She is an expert on membrane science and technology and one of the scientists of the highest scientific profile who are engaged in the development of the country. She received the 2011 Guido Dorso Award for research, sponsored by the Italian Senate and the University of Naples Federico II, and the Sapio Red Carpet Award in 2016.
Annarosa Gugliuzza has been research scientist at the ITM-CNR since 2001. She has a strong background in chemistry and materials science and technology and is an expert in the design of nanostructured membranes with high levels of organization, structure, chemistry, and dynamics, along with associated properties, including sensing, wetting, self-cleaning, separation, transport, and catalysis.
