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Energy and water are indispensable needs for human beings and the society, yet are scarce resources. Separation processes in today’s chemical industry are energy-intensive and constitute more than half of all process costs. Membrane separations, which use a selectively permeable barrier, the membrane, for the separation offer energy-efficient alternatives.

Huge amounts of water are used for industry as well as agriculture. Although around 70% of the world is covered by water, less than 1 ‰ is easily accessible freshwater. Cleaning and recycling water are essential for meeting the water demands of today’s society. Membrane processes hold a major role in water treatment, too.

In our research group we develop polymer-based membranes and membrane processes for energy-efficient separations in chemical and biochemical industries as well as for water treatment and reuse. We use new materials and nonconventional geometries to improve permeance, selectivity and antifouling behavior of our membranes. Applications of interest include Organic Solvent Nanofiltration, water treatment and product and solvent recovery from aqueous and organic solvent based solutions in food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.