Polymeric Membranes: Science, Materials and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Membrane technology has been used in liquid and gas separations for decades due to membranes being easy to fabricate, simple to use, with high selectivity and not needing to regenerate sorbents. Membranes are commonly made of polymeric, ceramic and stainless-steel materials. Of these, polymeric membranes are the most popular due to the following features: high selectivity, easy operation, ability to be functionalized and modified, among others; hence, they have been extensively studied.

Multiple polymers have been investigated in membrane fabrication, including conventional polymers, such as cellulose acetate (CA), polysulfone (PSf), polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDA), cellulose diacetate (CDA), cellulose triacetate (CTA), polyethersulfone, polyether urea, polyamide (PA), polyetheramines, polypropylene, and, more recently, some sustainable polymers. CA and PSf are among the most common polymers employed to fabricate membranes and have been widely researched. When first developed, PVDF was considered a game-changer since it exhibited high chemical and thermal resistance along with high mechanical strength. Besides these conventional petroleum-derived polymers, much research has been performed on sustainable polymers; for example, celluloses, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), bamboo fiber, chitosan, etc. Sustainable polymers have been investigated to minimize the use of petroleum-derived polymers to meet the requirements of membranes. These polymers are derived from natural products, which significantly decrease the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process.

The aim of this topical collection is to highlight the progress of monomers, the synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of polymers, copolymers, blends and composites for the fabrication of separation membranes. The themes includes, but not only limited to:

• Polymeric membrane science, such as thermodynamics and transport
• Novel polymers and polymeric blends
• Membrane modifications
• Membrane fouling
• Innovative applications of polymeric membranes
• Green polymers and processes
• Organic and inorganic additives to polymeric membranes

Prof. Dr. Isabel C. Escobar
Collection Editor

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