Separations
and Purifications Processes
Sub-element
of the Interfacial, Transport, and Separation Processes Program
Program
Director: Dr.
Geoffrey Prentice
The
Interfacial, Transport, and Separation Processes Program supports research
in areas related to interfacial phenomena, mass transport phenomena,
separation science, and phase equilibrium thermodynamics. Research
in these areas supports various aspects of engineering technology with
major impact on chemical and material processing, as well as bioprocess
engineering. Research in this program also contributes to the division
emphasis on basic knowledge impacting on physicochemical hazardous
waste treatment and avoidance. The Interfacial,
Transport, and Thermodynamics Sub-Program
provides support for new theories and approaches determining the thermodynamic
properties of fluids and fluid mixtures in biological and other fluids
with complex molecules. Separations research (usually handled by the
Separations and Purifications Processes Sub-Program) is directed at
many areas with special emphasis on bioprocessing and all forms of
chromatographic, membrane, and special affinity separations.
Specific
areas of research in the Separations and Purifications Processes Sub-Program
include
fundamental engineering science associated with the development of novel
materials and processes for the separation of chemical species. While traditionally
focused on relevance to the chemicals and petroleum processing industries,
newer areas of emphasis include the fine chemicals, biotechnology and advanced
materials industries, and separations that lead to environmentally benign
processing. Molecular recognition through materials design is an area of
emerging importance in this program.
The program
encourages proposals that address emerging research areas and technologies,
have a high degree of interdisciplinary thought and knowledge creation,
and integrate education and research.
Research
Topics:
- Catalytic
Membranes
- Microporous
and novel layered/pillared adsorbents
- self-assembly
in the synthesis of adsorbents and membranes
- nanostructured
materials for separations
- advanced
electrooptical materials for sensor development
- biomimetic
materials for separations
- chiral
separations
- separations
for environmentally benign processing.
- novel
polymeric and ceramic membranes
- novel
hybrid separation schemes
- integration
of separations in plant design
- optimization
of separations processes
- liquid-liquid
extraction and supercritical processes
- membrane
based processes
- adsorption
and chromatography
- biochemical
separations
- amphiphile
based separations (surfactants, polyampholytes, etc.)
- field
(flow, magnetic, electrical) induced separations.
- Thermodynamics
and transport simulations for separations design.
- Combinatorial
design of separation systems.
- Rational
ligand design for separations.
Several of
these areas are jointly supported with other programs as part of a multidisciplinary
approach to a project.
Other related
programs:
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