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Research Thrust Areas

Center faculty have identified three broad research thrust areas, each with several important subareas. Of the many projects possible in these research thrust areas, only a selected group will be implemented at any time. Selection will be made by the Industrial Advisory Board except for those projects funded by NJCST. For example, in January 1998 a number of projects on New Membrane Structures, Materials and Devices were funded by NJCST. The three broad research thrust areas and the corresponding subareas are as follows:

1. New Membrane Structures, Materials and Devices

  • Develop membranes with high solvent and thermal resistance from homopolymers and blends.
  • Develop barrier membranes.
  • Develop ceramic membranes and devices having particular structures and/or surface properties.
  • Develop highly stable chemical complexation-based membranes.
  • Develop improved modules for selected fouling/particulate-containing feeds.

2. Novel Membrane-based Processes and Techniques

  • New Membrane-based Separation Processes: Phase equilibrium and phase change processes. Decomplexation processes. Shape-selective processes. Solvent exchange processes. Membrane pretreatment and fouling control processes.
  • Multistep Process Integration: Integrated bioseparation processes. Membrane reactors. Membrane as a reactor. External integration of reactors and separators.
  • New Membrane-based Techniques: Controlled release techniques. Release of microparticulates, liposomes, etc. Membrane-mediated sensing of analytes.
  • Membrane Characterization: Ultrafiltration and solvent-resistant nanofiltration membrane characterization. Selectivity and permeances of various gas/liquid mixtures through molecular sieve membranes, nanoporous LPCVD membranes.

3. Applications Development and Infrastructure Initiatives

  • Pervaporation: Organic dehydration. Organic-organic separation. Organic removal from water.
  • Nanofiltration: Organic solvent-based systems using solvent-resistant membranes.
  • Membrane Database Development.
  • Design Methodologies for Membrane Separation Processes.

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