Research and Applications

An integrated research plan for the Centre's activities was originally developed in late 1987 and with some minor redefinition provides the basis for the continuing scientific activity of the Centre.

The Centre aims to maintain a balance between its fundamental research and more applied studies. The former are principally funded by our Special Research Centre grant and the latter by other agencies including industry.

The broad research objectives of the Commonwealth Special Research Centre include:

• Unambiguous physico-chemical characterisation of membranes and membrane processes (both biological and synthetic membranes).
• Development of instruments and procedures for the characterisation of membranes and membrane performance; in particular for monitoring membranes during process operation.
• Development of novel membranes modified by post fabrication treatment, including investigation of the electrical properties of membranes produced from conducting materials and the manner in which the transport and separation properties of such membranes can be modified or controlled electrically.
• Determination of the nature and extent of solute-membrane interactions in biological and synthetic membranes, including electric field and dielectric effects and means of modifying and exploiting those interactions.
• Elucidation of the mechanisms governing solute deposition onto membranes and development of ways to overcome or control this deposition by modifications to membranes and operational strategies.
• Gain a fundamental understanding of flow channel hydrodynamics for membrane modules and developing improved membrane devices and procedures based on this understanding.
• Development of sensing and analytical membranes based on bio-molecular moieties and functional polymers and evaluation of such membranes as sensors and highly selective separation membranes.
• Development of the theory of electrodiffusion (Nernst-Planck-Poisson equations) governing the flow of charged molecules through various membrane structures, both biological and synthetic.
• Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in transport processes and of the electrical properties of biological cell membranes and of their relation to membrane structure and cell function.
• Fundamental understanding of cell membrane processes such as self-assembly, electrical stability and cell electromechanics.

Environmental and industrial applications of membrane science and technology. This objective encompasses a wide range of associated projects funded by government agencies and industry.

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Current and Past Projects

Click on the links below to peruse current and past projects carried out by the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology:

• Membrane and Process Characterisation
• Membrane Bioreactor Research
• Membrane-Solute Interaction
• Membrane Module and System Development
• Membrane Process Applications
• Electro-disinfection
• Water Reclamation and Waste Management
• Biomedical Applications
• Biomembranes

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