• Polymeric & Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Formation
  (2 days - Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12)
   
• Membrane Applications in Water Treatment
  (2 days - Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12)
   
• Membrane Modules: Design and Mass Transfer
  (1 day - Saturday May 11)
   
• Membrane Surface Characterization by AFM
  (1 day - Sunday May 12)
   

• Michael Guiver
  National Research Council, Canada
• Jerry Lin
  University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• Klaus-Viktor Peinemann
  GKSS Research Center
• Ingo Pinnau
  Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.

This two-day workshop will provide an in-depth overview on material selection and fabrication techniques for laboratory and large-scale production of polymeric and inorganic membranes. The course will focus on fundamental scientific principles as well as practical issues involved in the formation of isotropic and anisotropic membranes. The structures and separation properties of a wide variety of state-of-the art membranes for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, gas separation, and pervaporation will be presented. Future directions for development of advanced membranes will be discussed, including the latest developments in membranes for fuel cell applications.

• Polymer Membranes
  1. Introduction to Synthetic Membranes (Processes, membrane types, structures, history of synthetic membranes, module types).
  2. Material Selection (Basic principles of polymer science, material selection for different membrane separation processes, structure/property relationships, membrane transport).
  3. Formation of Polymer Membranes by Phase Separation (Phase separation principles, immersion precipitation, thermally-induced phase separation process, microporous membranes, dense, thin-skinned asymmetric membranes).
  4. Formation of Thin-Film Composite Membranes (Solution coating processes, interfacial composite membranes, multilayer composites).
  5. Membrane Modifications (Methodology for surface and bulk modification by chemical and plasma techniques).
  6. Membrane Formation and Modification Patents (Brief overview of the most important U.S. patents in reverse osmosis, gas separation, and pervaporation).
• Inorganic Membranes
  1. Introduction to Inorganic Membranes (Major References, Historical Overview of Inorganic Membranes, Common Membrane Elements/Modules, Uncommon Membrane Elements/Modules)
  2. Macroporous (Microfiltration) Membranes (Preparation of Membrane Support, Preparation of Microfiltration Membranes, Packing of Particles from Suspension, Sintering of Macroporous Ceramics)
  3. Mesoporous (Ultrafiltration) Membranes (Methods for Preparing Mesoporous Membranes, Sol-Gel Derived Mesoporous Membranes, Properties of Mesoporous Membranes)
  4. Microporous Membranes (Sol-Gel Synthesis of Microporous Materials, Hollow Fiber Inorganic Membranes, Carbon Membrane-Method of Pyrolysis, Zeolite Membranes)
  5. Dense Membranes (Dense Silica Membranes, Metal Membranes, Protonic Conducting Ceramic Membranes, Perovskite Type Ceramic Membranes, Fluorite-Type Ceramic Membranes)

• Michelle Chapman
  US Bureau of Reclamation, M.S. D-8230, P.O. Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225-0007; Phone: (303) 445- 2264, Fax: (303) 445-6329, E-Mail: mchapman@do.usbr.gov
• Irvine Moch Jr.
  I. Moch & Assoc., Inc. PMB 161, Suite 6, 1812 Marsh Road, Wilmington, DE 19910-4528; Phone: (302) 477-0420, Fax: (302) 477-0242, E- Mail:imoch@aol.com
• Stan Lueck
  RODI Systems Corp., 936 Hwy 516, Aztec, NM 87410-2828; Phone: 505- 334-5865, Fax: 505-334-5867, E-Mail: stan@rodisystems.com
• Jim Vickers, P.E.
  Project Manager Separation Processes, Inc., 960 W. San Marcos Blvd. Suite 200, San Marcos, CA 92069; Phone: (760) 736-3200, Fax: (760) 736-3205, E-Mail: jvickers@spi-engineering.com

This two day workshop presents a broad overview of the growing place for membranes in the water treatment industry. You will understand the differences and similarities between the various membrane processes, how they are operated, what can go wrong and how to prevent it. Concentrate disposal/processing methods will be described and evaluated as to which is best in what situation. Research needs will be emphasized in each area. New regulations for filtration processes in the potable drinking water industry will be explained in detail. A valuable cost estimation program will be introduced as a powerful tool in comparing construction and operations costs.

• Glenn Lipscomb
  University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, glenn.lipscomb@utoledo.edu
• Benny Freeman
  University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, freeman@che.utexas.edu

In the Membrane Modules: Design and Mass Transfer Workshop, participants will learn: how hollow fiber and spiral wound modules are manufactured; the fundamentals of mass transfer in these systems; and the effects of critical module design variables on performance. Mass transfer and design differences between gas and liquid module designs will be discussed. Additionally, software for basic module performance calculations will be supplied. Attendees will leave with a comprehension of the fundamental principles and basic computational tools required to evaluate mass transfer and performance of membrane modules.

1. Module Manufacture (patent review)
   • Fiber bundle/tubesheet formation and types
   • Scroll formation
   • Header and case design
   
    
2. Spiral Wound and Hollow Fiber Modules for Liquid Separations
   • Processes: liquid-liquid contactors (dialysis & extraction), liquid-gas contactors (stripping & absorption), filtration
   • Mass transfer and basic design equations for liquid separations in spiral and hollow fiber geometries
   • Module inefficiencies and their effect on mass transfer: poor wet-out, high pressure drop, Starling flow, property variation, fiber packing variation, poor shell flow distribution
   • Visualization of flow/concentration: optical, MRI, CT
   • Process examples
   • Novel module/system designs (patent review)
   
    
3. Spiral Wound and Hollow Fiber Modules for Gas Separations
   • Processes: current commercial applications
   • Mass transfer and basic design equations for gas separations in spiral and hollow fiber geometries
   • Module inefficiencies and their effect on mass transfer: property variation, fiber packing variation, poor shell flow distribution
   • Multicomponent gas separation
   • Thermal effects
   • Process examples
   • Novel module/system designs (patent review)

• Sergei Magonov
  Veeco Instruments Santa Barbara, CA, USA; E-Mail: Sergei.Magonov@veeco.com, Phone: 1-805- 9672700 ext. 2229
• Bede Pettinger
  Digital Instruments/ Veeco Metrology Group,Santa Barbara, CA 93117 USA
• W. Richard Bowen
  Centre for Complex Fluids Processing, Department of Chemical and Biological Process Engineering,University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK; Tel/fax: 44-1792-295862, E-Mail: cebowen@CE1.SWAN.AC.UK
• Dr. Teodora Doneva
  University of Wales Swansea,Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
• Jana Safarik
  Orange County Water District Fountain Valley, CA; Phone: 714-378-3282, E-Mail: Jsafarik@ocwd.com

Scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) are indispensable tools for surface characterization. Such tools provide new dimensions to membrane surface characterization that will assist in optimizing membrane design and understanding membrane performance. This one-day workshop will therefore focus on providing a fundamental understanding of these surface characterization methods and their application to polymeric and inorganic surface characterization. The workshop will include discussion of the general theory and practice of AFM analysis, use of AFM for membrane surface characterization and performance evaluation, an interactive discussion about the use of AFM in characterization of membranes, and a hands-on session on the operation of an AFM operation.

Workshop Topics:

1. Atomic force microscopy in analysis of polymer materials (Sergei Magonov)
2. Probing local mechanical and electric properties using AFM (Bede Pettinger)
3. Atomic force microscopy - state-of- the-art visualization and force measurements at membrane surfaces (Richard Bowen)
4. Quantitative Analysis of Membrane Surfaces Using the Atomic Force Microscope (Jana Safarik)