High-Efficiency Membrane Process and Biological Separation Engineering

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Separation Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2026 | Viewed by 615

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Física Aplicada (INFAP-CONICET-UNSL)-Departamento de Química, Facultad de Química, Bio-química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejercito de los Andes 950, San Luis ZC 5700, Argentina
Interests: membrane technology; membrane design and synthesis; membrane separation processes; micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration; effluent treatment; fouling models; membrane cleaning; polymers; biopolymers—proteins and polysaccharides; physicochemistry of macromolecules; purification; characterization and chemical modification of polysaccharides; films and packaging based on polysaccharides; characterization and design of polysaccharide capsules; emulsions; intrinsic viscosity; GPC; DLS; DRX; SEM-EDX; water vapor permeability; swelling index; mechanical properties of films; gas permeation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Interests: gels; 3D imprinting; rheology; polymers; pyrolysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Membrane processes have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential for high-efficiency separation in various industries. These processes are based on the use of semi-permeable membranes that allow the passage of certain components while retaining others, thus enabling the separation of different substances. In combination with biological separation engineering, these membrane processes offer a promising approach for achieving sustainable cost-effective solutions for various applications.

One of the key advantages of membrane processes is their high efficiency in separating substances at a molecular or macromolecular level according to the separation process. This allows for precise control over the process, leading to high-purity products and reduced waste. Additionally, membrane processes can be tailored to specific requirements by selecting membranes with varying pore sizes and surface properties, enabling the effective separation of a wide range of substances, including particles, ions, and macromolecules.

Incorporating biological separation engineering into membrane processes further enhances their effectiveness by leveraging biological mechanisms for specific separations. For instance, microorganisms or enzymes can be immobilized onto membranes to facilitate the selective removal or transformation of target compounds from complex mixtures. This can lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly separation methods by minimizing energy consumption and chemical usage.

Moreover, combining membrane processes with biological separation engineering has shown great potential in various applications such as water treatment, food processing, pharmaceutical production, biotechnology, and environmental remediation. In water treatment applications, membrane bioreactors have emerged as efficient systems for wastewater treatment by integrating physical filtration with the biological degradation of organic pollutants. Similarly, in the food processing industries, this approach has enabled the selective extraction of valuable components from raw materials while minimizing losses.

Despite these advantages, challenges remain in optimizing the design and operation of integrated biological membrane systems at larger scales. Issues such as fouling (i.e., accumulation of unwanted materials on membranes) and limited selectivity towards specific components or organisms require further research efforts in order to be overcome.

This Special Issue on “High-Efficiency Membrane Process and Biological Separation Engineering” seeks high-quality works focusing on biological membrane processes, covering but not limited to the following topics:

  • Membrane processes;
  • Biological separation engineering;
  • Selective membranes;
  • Membrane pore sizes and surface properties;
  • Effective separation (particles, ions, and macromolecules);
  • Immobilized membranes (microorganisms or enzymes);
  • Selective removal;
  • Sustainable and environmentally friendly separation;
  • Methods for minimizing energy consumption and chemical usage;
  • Water and wastewater treatments;
  • Food filtration processing;
  • Pharmaceutical filtration;
  • Biotechnology and environmental remediation;
  • Membrane bioreactors;
  • Physical filtration with the biological degradation of organic pollutants;
  • Food packaging and biopackaging;
  • Integrated biological membrane systems—scales and fouling;
  • Materials on membranes;
  • Membrane design;
  • Membrane transport;
  • Microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration;
  • Ceramic membranes.

Dr. Martin A. Masuelli
Prof. Dr. Maria Luján Auad
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • membrane processes
  • biological separation engineering
  • selective membranes
  • membrane pore sizes and surface properties
  • effective separation
  • immobilized membranes
  • selective removal
  • sustainable and environmentally friendly separation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 3329 KiB  
Article
Heat-Sealing Process for Chañar Brea Gum Films
by María Fernanda Torres, Federico Becerra, Mauricio Filippa, Gisela Melo and Martin Masuelli
Processes 2025, 13(7), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13072189 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 302
Abstract
This work presents a comprehensive evaluation of the heat-sealability of films developed from chañar brea gum (CBG), a biopolymer with potential for packaging applications. Heat sealability is a critical property in the packaging industry, as it directly determines the integrity and functionality of [...] Read more.
This work presents a comprehensive evaluation of the heat-sealability of films developed from chañar brea gum (CBG), a biopolymer with potential for packaging applications. Heat sealability is a critical property in the packaging industry, as it directly determines the integrity and functionality of the final product. The films were prepared by the 10% casting method with the addition of glycerin, and heat sealing was performed at 140 °C using a heat sealer. Heat sealing was performed on 2 cm × 10 cm strips of chañar gum in the horizontal (CBG-H) and vertical (CBG-V) directions. This study employs a joint determination to explore the fundamental properties of the films, including proximate analysis, antioxidant capacity, FTIR, DSC, TGA-DTGA, XRD, mechanical testing, water vapor permeability, sorption, and biodegradability. By integrating the results of all these determinations, this study seeks to evaluate and explain the “intimate relationships”—i.e., the complex interconnections among the molecular structure, composition, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and barrier properties of channier gum films—and how these fundamental properties dictate and control their heat sealability. The thermal stability of CBG is up to 200 °C, with a melting point of 152.48 °C. The interstrand spacing was very similar at 4.88 nm for CBG and 4.66 nm for CBG-H. The SEM images of the heat seal show rounded shapes on the surface, while in the cross section, it is homogeneous and almost without gaps. The WVP decreased from 1.7 to 0.37 for CBG and CBG-H, respectively. The Young’s modulus decreased from 132 MPa for CBG to 96.5 MPa for CBG-H. The heat sealability is 656 N/m, with a biodegradability of 4 days. This comprehensive approach is crucial for optimizing the sealing process and designing functional and efficient biodegradable packages. Full article
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