Article | REF: J2842 V1

Introduction to the implications of membrane processes

Author: Gilbert Marcel RIOS

Publication date: June 10, 2012

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ABSTRACT

The main objective of this short article is to illustrate the essential and saving part that membrane technologies are to play in the field of sustainable development and green chemistry. What a better way to explain other than to illustrate a few somewhat theoretical perspectives by presenting striking examples of separation processes and original concepts of reaction engineering as well as by opening different perspectives on other domains which give even more prospective which are already have an inescapable nature.

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AUTHOR

  • Gilbert Marcel RIOS: Professor Emeritus - Doctor of Engineering - Director European Membrane House (AISBL) - Deputy Director of the UNESCO SIMEV Chair

 INTRODUCTION

In a book published by Elsevier in 1995 , E. Sackmann writes: "Life in all its diversity only became possible after nature discovered the membrane. This tool represents the barrier needed to protect living entities from the harmful effects of their inert and hostile environment, while guaranteeing the necessary highly selective exchanges between the two worlds... The reduction of the tool's geometry to two dimensions ensures considerable efficiency, offering the possibility of irreversible charge separation and transient energy storage via the development of electrochemical potential gradients". Biological membranes represent the ultimate achievement of today's research and technological developments in the field of artificial membranes. Together with enzymatic catalysis, they form the basis of all living models, and are therefore a guarantee of the most sustainable development possible.

In principle , artificial membrane technologies offer considerable advantages in terms of green chemistry objectives:

  • Isothermal operations are characterized by improved energy efficiency, greater safety and better quality of the products processed (particularly if they are fragile, such as organic products);

  • as they do not require the use of solvents (except for the cleaning of installations outside the production cycle), they contribute to a reduction in the use of solvents and healthier finished products;

  • by working at the molecular or ionic level, they enable a more rational use of materials;

  • their modularity means greater on-line control of performance and greater plant reliability...

These are just some of the arguments that could be multiplied, all of which refer back to the corpus of principles mentioned in the "Disruptive technology" box.

Today, membrane technologies are considered "mainstream technologies" in a number of advanced countries such as the USA, China, Japan, Korea... particularly for their applications in the environmental and recycling...

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KEYWORDS

introduction   |   Stakes   |   Processes   |   Green Chemistry   |   substainable dévelopment


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Introduction to the challenges of membrane processes