Dear Colleagues,

Liquid membranes (LMs) are a well-known type of membranes that have been applied in different areas where separation or specific transport is needed. The selectivity of LMs is easily increased with the use of an appropriate carrier; the LMs become functionalized membranes that can be very specific for the separation of target solutes. Moreover, unlike many other separation processes, LMs are usually driven only by chemical forces, and hence can have low energy intensity in their operation.

The underlying technology required to utilize LMs for separating target solutes from aqueous solutions is relatively simple, and can be easily adapted to a range of applications. LMs are very versatile, and can be found in different configurations, such as supported liquid membranes (SLMs) and membrane contactors. These configurations have been applied for the recovery of valued or toxic metals, removal of organic compounds, gas separation and recovery of fermentation products, among others. In the configuration of emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs), they are used as storage and delivery vehicles of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in the health sciences and the pharmaceutical industry. Membrane contactors are also gaining importance; these contactors can supply 20 to 100 times more surface area per volume than conventional extraction and absorption equipment.

However, in spite of the known advantages of using SLMs, one major drawback for industrial application is the SLMs’ instability: i.e., the liquid phase evaporates or may get easily displaced from the pores. One of the most interesting strategies for improving SLMs’ stability involves the use of ionic liquids, as these compounds have negligible vapor pressure.

We invite contributors to submit original research papers discussing the latest developments in liquid membrane-based processes for chemical, biological, and environmental applications.

Prof. Dr. Kyriakos D. Papadopoulos
Prof. Dr. Isabel Coelhoso
Prof. Dr. Clàudia Fontàs
Guest Editors

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• liquid membranes
• membrane contactors
• membrane processes
• ionic liquids
• stability

• Liquid Membranes in Membranes (4 articles)