Mixed Matrix Membranes for Molecular Separations

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid growth of membrane technology after the 1960s was stimulated by the availability of many new types of polymer membrane and a better understanding of the economics of membrane processes for molecular separation. However, this progress almost came to a standstill in the 90s when developing new, more selective membranes with high permeances became difficult. The existence of upper limits in the membrane field explains the failure of most attempts made in recent years to synthesize highly selective and permeable membranes. One approach that has exhibited the potential to overcome the permeability/selectivity tradeoff is the development of mixed matrix membranes, and since its discovery much work has been done in this field. Mixed matrix membranes have been utilized in almost every area of the membrane field, including gas separation, water and wastewater treatment, organic solvent nanofiltration, hemodialysis, and vapor separation. Although mixed matrix membranes have been successfully tested and demonstrated to overcome the tradeoff at the lab scale, there are still issues such as filler agglomeration, filler–polymer compatibility, etc., that need to be addressed before the full potential of mixed matrix membranes is realized.

This Special Issue, entitled Mixed Matrix Membranes for Molecular Separations, is motivated by the gap between a growing interest in developing mixed matrix membranes and the industrial upscaling of the technology. This Special Issue aims to cover significant issues, including organic–inorganic compatibility, membrane types (flat sheet, hollow fiber), and types of additives (metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, ion-exchange materials, porous polymers, etc.). Overall, this Special Issue is orientated to cover all the above topics directed towards the advancement of mixed matrix membranes and novel materials in membrane technology and will include both original research and reviews in these subject areas.

Dr. Faheem Hassan Akhtar
Dr. Mayur Ostwal
Guest Editors

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• mixed matrix membranes
• membrane fabrication
• characterization techniques
• hollow fiber membrane
• flat sheet membrane
• interfacial polymerization
• filler dispersion
• gas separation
• organic solvent nanofiltration
• water treatment
• energy storage