EMS Webinar on June 9, 2025 - Prof. Peter Budd
Prof. Peter M. Budd will give the next EMS webinar scheduled for monday June 9 at 3 pm CET (i.e. 2 pm British Summer Time) on the EMS Youtube Channel.
Biography:
Peter Budd is a Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the University of Manchester. He studied at Manchester for his BSc in Chemistry (1978) and his PhD in Polymer Chemistry (1981). After eight years as a research chemist at the BP Research Centre, Sunbury-on-Thames, he returned to Manchester as a Lecturer in 1989. His research involves the development of novel polymers for a variety of applications, including membranes for molecular separations. He is a co-inventor of the class of polymers referred to as Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs).
Webinar Title: 21 Years of PIMs
Abstract:
The first publications on solution-processible polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) appeared in 2004.1,2 Since then, there has been considerable research on this class of polymers for gas separation membranes and other applications. The development of PIMs will be outlined and recent progress discussed.
Membrane applications of PIMs have been constrained by concerns about the effects of physical ageing and plasticization. One way to improve long-term membrane performance is through the addition of fillers.3,4 However, poor compatibility between filler and polymer can be an issue. Insight into the effects of interfacial defects may be obtained through computer modelling.5
Chemical modification can be used to tailor PIM performance for bespoke applications. The origin of high CO2 selectivity in amine-PIM-1 has been explored.6
A key development is the recognition that, depending on the polymerization conditions, a PIM sample may contain a variety of polymer topologies, including branched, cyclic and network structures. The distribution of polymer topologies can have a profound impact on membrane performance and long-term behaviour.7
Recently the focus of much research has shifted to commercially realistic thin-film composite (TFC) membranes,8,9 rather than thick films. TFC membranes have been prepared in hollow-fibre form,10 as well as flat-sheet form.
Membrane processes have a key role to play in a sustainable future, as they can be compact and energy-efficient compared to conventional separation processes. However, there is scope for improving the sustainability of the materials that are used. Greener solvents are being explored for PIM synthesis.11
While much research on PIMs has focused on gas separations, a wide range of applications are being investigated, including for fuel cells.12
References
- P.M. Budd, B.S. Ghanem, S. Makhseed, N.B. McKeown, K.J. Msayib and C.E. Tattershall, Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs): robust, solution-processable, organic nanoporous materials, Chem. Commun., 2004, 230-231.
- P.M. Budd, E.S. Elabas, B.S. Ghanem, S. Makhseed, N.B. McKeown, K.J. Msayib, C.E. Tattershall and D. Wang, Solution-processed, organophilic membrane derived from a polymer of intrinsic microporosity, Adv. Mater., 2004, 16, 456-459.
- M. Alshurafa, A.B. Foster, S. Aloraini, M. Yu, B. Qiu, P. Gorgojo, M.P. Attfield and P.M. Budd, Mixed matrix and thin-film nanocomposite membranes of PIM-1 and hydrolysed PIM-1 with Ni- and Co-MOF-74 nanoparticles for CO2 separation: Comparison of blending, grafting and crosslinking fabrication methods, J. Membr. Sci. 2025, 713, 123388.
- M. Pérez-Miana, J.M. Luque-Alled, Á. Mayoral, I. Martínez-Visus, A.B. Foster, P.M. Budd and J. Coronas, Amphiphilic zeolitic imidazolate framework for improved CO2 separation in PIM-1 mixed matrix membranes, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2025 DOI: /10.1002/anie.202420879.
- 5. Ghasemi, L. Sarkisov, P.M. Budd and M. Babaei, Advanced insights into the role of interfacial defect morphology in mixed matrix membrane gas transport, J. Membr. Sci., 2025, 723, 123883.
- C. Rizzuto, F. Nardelli, M. Monteleone, L. Calucci, C.G. Bezzu, M. Carta, E. Tocci, E. Esposito, G. De Luca, B. Comesaña-Gándara, N.B. McKeown, B. Sayginer, P.M. Budd, J.C. Jansen and A. Fuoco, Unravelling the origin of enhanced CO2 selectivity in amine-PIM-1 during mixed gas permeation, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025 DOI: 10.1039/D4TA08839E
- A.B. Foster, M Yu, M. Alshurafa and P.M. Budd, Impact of Polymer Topology on Physical Aging of Thin Film Composite Membranes Based on PIM-1, cPIM-1, and Associated Blends, Macromolecules, 2025, 58, 4289-4299.
- M. Yu, A.B. Foster, S.E. Kentish, C.A. Scholes and P.M. Budd, Recent Progress in Thin Film Composite Membranes based on the Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity PIM-1: Preparation, Properties and Performance, J. Membr. Sci., 2025, 722, 123844.
- B. Qiu, M. Yu, M. Alshurafa, P. López-Porfiri, M. Perez-Page, A.B. Foster, P.M. Budd, X. Fan and P. Gorgojo, GO as gutter layer in superglassy thin film composite membranes for enhanced gas separation, J. Membr. Sci., 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2025.124245
- S.V. Gutiérrez-Hernández, F. Pardo, A.B. Foster, P.M.Budd, G. Zarca and A. Urtiaga, Gas separation performance of branched PIM-1 thin-film composite hollow fiber membranes, Sep. Purif. Technol., 2025, 363, 132254.
- A. Ayyaz, A.B. Foster, L. Cseri, G. Szekely and P.M. Budd, Greener Synthesis of the Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity PIM-1 for Gas Separation, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2025, 13, 2784-2792.
- X. Yang, Z. Feng, M. Alshurafa, M. Yu, A.B. Foster, H. Zhai, T. Yuan, Y. Xiao, C. D'Agostino, L. Ai, Ma. Perez-Page, K. Smith, F. Foglia, A. Lovett, T.S. Miller, J. Chen, P.M. Budd and S.M. Holmes, Durable Proton Exchange Membrane Based on Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity for Fuel Cells, Adv. Mater., 2025, 37, 2419534.
PhD Poisition in Chemical Engineering on Transfer Phenomena in Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Toulouse, France
We announce a PhD Position in Chemical Engineering at the Laboratoire de Génie Chimique in Toulouse, France on Transfer Phenomena in Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis.
Partners: The Chemical Engineering Laboratory, team led by Professor Sylvain Galier and CNRS Research Director Hélène Roux-de Balmann, specializing in separations using ion exchange membranes. EURODIA: one of the world's leading specialists in electrodialysis, holder of numerous patents, and leader in its application in several industrial fields.
Candidate profile: Master's degree or engineering degree in chemical engineering, process engineering, with research experience. Ability to synthesize, autonomy, rigor, and aptitude for teamwork. Writing skills, fluency in written and oral scientific English.
Work Location: Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Toulouse - Short-term assignments at EURODIA (Pertuis)
Salary: €26-27,000 gross/year, according to CIFRE conditions
Duration: 36-month fixed-term contract (starting in the second half of 2025)
How to Apply: Send a cover letter and CV to the following contacts before June 30, 2025 Sylvain Galier, sylvain.galier@univ-tlse3.fr and Hélène Roux-de Balmann, helene.roux-de-balmann@univ-tlse3.fr
Topic:
Context and State of the Art
Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis (BMED) process uses bipolar membranes (BMs) in various types of stacks. These membranes have the capacity, under suitable conditions, to dissociate water into H+ protons and OH- hydroxyls. They therefore allow the pH of solutions to be modified (acidification, alkalization) without the use of chemical inputs (acids or bases). BMED is therefore a particularly advantageous technology in the context of reducing the environmental impact of processes. Implemented in 3-compartment stacks (AEM/BM/CEM), it allows the regeneration of saline solutions into acids and bases. The interest generated by this technology has resulted in 3 review articles published since 2021 (Pârnamâe et al., 2021; Chen et al., 2022; Zhou et al., 2025). They have highlighted the advances, certain limitations, ways for improvement and prospects for the use of BMED. For example, the achievable concentration levels remain limited. “Co-ion leakage” is commonly cited to explain this limitation. This is in reality a co-transfer and not a leak in the strict sense. It results in a deterioration in performance, in terms of yield and quality (purity) of the products obtained. The origin of this phenomenon is still insufficiently identified (migration, diffusion, localization at the level of MEI or MB, etc.), so it remains difficult to limit its impact. Previous work has shown that the water transfer that accompanies the transfer of ions can also limit the achievable concentration level (Bailly et al., 2000; Borges et al., 2008; Han et al., 2015). A recent review (Zhou et al., 2025) further highlights the need to improve knowledge of multi-ionic transfers in the case of the treatment of complex solutions, in order to allow a broader development of the BMED process.
Objectives of the project
The objective of this project is to study the transfer phenomena involved in 3-compartment BMED systems (AEM/BM/CEM), used to produce or regenerate acid and base solutions from complex saline solutions, containing several mineral ions and/or organic impurities. A better understanding of these phenomena will make it possible to identify levers of action (properties of IEM or BM membranes, operating parameters, pretreatment of saline solutions) in order to improve the performance of the process (achievable concentration levels, product purity, etc.). Modelling will also be used based on transfer variables to predict the composition of the processed flows. This work will benefit from the approaches developed in previous studies (Roux de Balmann et al., 2002; Borges et al., 2008; Galier et al., 2013; Han et al., 2017).
Research Methodology
A bibliographic update will be carried out at the start of the project (publications and patents). This will help guide further work on the identified limitations. A report will be written (state of the art, study implementation).
A study will then be conducted at the laboratory scale. Experiments will be conducted with synthetic solutions of different compositions while varying the operating parameters (current density, concentrations, compositions). The transfer quantities will be determined to identify the contribution of the various phenomena involved (ionic transfer and water transfer across the different membranes of the stack, dissociation reaction at the BM level, etc.). Their impact on the performance of the BMED will be characterized (faradic efficiency, product purity). A model will be searched to describe the evolution of BMED performances as a function of the operating parameters. This investigation will becarried out for various stacks, consisting of different IEMs and BMs. Scaling up will then be addressed through pilot-scale experiments. The transfer quantities will be determined and compared to those previously determined at the laboratory scale. This will highlight the scalable quantities, i.e. independent of the system size, and any performance discrepancies with the laboratory scale. The representativeness of the model developed at the laboratory scale will be assessed. Depending on the observed differences, an adaptation of the model will be considered.
EMS Webinar on May 30, 2025 - Dr. Lidietta Giorno
Dr. Lidietta Giorno will give the EMS webinar scheduled for Friday May 30 at 4 pm CET on the EMS Youtube Channel.
The EMS webinar podcast series gives the scientific community a chance to know better the membrane journey of leading membranologists. Tune into the EMS YouTube channel for a live podcast followed by a short presentation on the current research interests of the invited speakers.
Biography:
Lidietta Giorno is the Research Director at the Institute on Membrane Technology of the National Research Council of Italy, CNR-ITM. She has served as the Director of the Institute from May 2009 till February 2019.
She is an expert in membrane science and membrane bioengineering, focusing on biohybrid, bioinspired, nanostructure membranes, biocatalytic membranes and membrane reactors, membrane emulsification, downstream (bio)processing, integrated membrane processes, water treatment, and membrane biorefinery. She was awarded The International Awards "Guido Dorso" for Research in 2011 and the Sapio Red Carpet Award in 2016. She has served as the President of the EMS Council, has been an Honorary Member of the EMS since 2014, and the editor of the Membrane News - the EMS Newsletter since 2002. She has been the Editor of the Journal of Membrane Science since January 2020 and has coauthored over 300 peer-reviewed papers, various books, and the Encyclopedia on Membranes (Springer).
Webinar Title: An insight into the journey of a membranologist Imparting biofunctional properties to synthetic membranes and beyond
Abstract:
The presentation will illustrate the progress made in the development and application of biofunctional membranes to achieve properties and functions like those exhibited by membranes in nature. The development of artificial membranes able to reach the performance of natural systems membranes (in terms of selectivity, antifouling, self-cleaning or repairing, surface-to-volume ratio, processes integration, etc.) is still an open challenge. The understanding of fundamentals and mechanisms in the field of interactions at molecular and supramolecular levels that govern hierarchical assembling at the nanoscale and lead to target structures and functions opens for breakthroughs in the field. To design, tailor and fine-tune bio-artificial systems membranes, it is possible to use a large variety of biomolecules, natural materials and processes.
This lecture covers the membrane journey of the speaker on biofunctional membranes and beyond, with a special focus on the fields of biotechnology, biorefinery and biosensors.
XPRIZE Water Scarcity - Track B - Desalination: Novel Materials and Methods
The XPRIZE Foundation is promoting a competition on innovative desalination technologies named XPRIZE Water Scarcity - Track B - Desalination: Novel Materials and Methods.
XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a 5-year global competition set to drive a step change in desalination technologies, reimagining systems, methods, and materials. In Track B - Desalination: Novel Materials and Methods, the winning team wil demonstrate a novel material and/or method for salt-water separation that can sustainably and cost-effectively treat seawater to potable water quality. This track welcomes a broad range of innovations, including advanced pressure-driven membranes and emerging materials and/or methods beyond traditional pressure-driven membranes for salt-water separation, with solutions delivering an operational lifetime of 10 years or more. Innovations must either serve as a direct replacement of or advance the performance of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes, ensuring scalability, energy efficiency, and durability. Teams must describe how their innovation wil integrate into existing SWRO desalination plants.
Key Dates
Team Registration Deadline: 31st May
Qualifying Submission Deadline: 30th June
Click on the following link to access the competition guidelines or visit the website https://www.xprize.org/prizes/water/guidelines
Post-Doc Position in High-Performance 2D Membranes, University of Bath, UK
We announce a two-year Post-Doc position (Research Associate) in High-Performance 2D Membranes at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Bath within the EPSRC-funded Programme Grant ‘SynHiSel’, a major effort linking membrane researchers at Bath, Manchester, Newcastle, Imperial College, Queen Mary and Edinburgh Universities https://synhisel.com
Type of Contract: Full-Time, 24 month, fixed term
About the Research:
Chemical separations are essential to almost every aspect of our daily lives, from the energy we use to the medications we take. Separations consume 10-15% of the total energy used in the world, with novel membranes having the potential to make these separations 10x more energy efficient and save 100m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and £3.5bn in energy costs annually (US DoE).
2D membranes have the potential to deliver on this promise of higher efficiency, provided lack of stability and high manufacturing costs can be overcome. At Bath, a new class of inherently stable 2D membranes for liquid separations which overcome the limits of graphene-based membranes, and using an abundant and inexpensive feedstock material has been developed. In this 2-year post-doctoral position the candidate will work on exploring new applications for these 2D membranes and work on manufacturing scale-up in collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
About the Candidate:
The candidate will have prior expertise on membrane fabrication using 2D nanomaterials, membrane characterisation and their testing in liquid separations. The candidate will have a track-record of publishing at the highest level and an ambition to lead cutting-edge research in membrane science and technology.
The candidate will be joining a multidisciplinary group with expertise in materials, chemistry, process engineering and water treatment, working with Prof John Chew and Prof Davide Mattia in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath, UK.
For more information, please contact Prof Davide Mattia, d.mattia@bath.ac.uk
More information about the position and how to apply is available at the link https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?ref=KK12574
Research Prize Fellow in Membrane Science and Technology, University of Bath, UK
We announce a Prize Fellow position in Membrane Science and Technology at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Bath. This two-year research fellowship is part of a scheme intended to fast-track early-stage researchers to a permanent appointment at the University of Bath.
The independent researcher will have a track-record of working in membrane science and technology with a particular focus on energy- and environmentally-focused applications such as sustainable energy production (e.g. electrochemical systems, flow batteries), critical mineral recovery/extraction, and ion separation.
Job Title: Research Prize Fellow - Membranes
Department: Chemical Engineering
Salary: Starting from £46,735, rising to £55,755
Contract Type: Full Time, Fixed Term
Closing Date: Friday 09 May 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
More information is available at the link: https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?ref=KK12641
Doctoral Positions within the PHOTOBRANE project funded under the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023, University of Zaragoza, Spain
We announce two doctoral positions (DR08 and DR11) within the project PHOTOBRANE.
PHOTOBRANE is the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network "Photo-tuning membranes for molecular separation" (GA #101168776).
Application Deadline: 1 May 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Madrid)
Organisation/Company: Universidad de Zaragoza
Department: EUROPEAN PROJECTS OFFICE
Research Field: Chemistry; Engineering » Chemical engineering; Engineering » Materials engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country: Spain
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 37.5
Offer Starting Date: 1 Sep 2025
More information is available at the link: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/333835#job-information
Postdoctoral Position in Chemical Engineering on Membranes and Membrane Process for Water Treatment, Lund University, Sweden
- 3D-Photocat - 3D-Printed, Self-Regeneratable Photocatalytic Filters as Hydroxyl Radical Manufacturer: A Lab to Pilot Scale Approach support by Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
- DESOLINATON - Demonstration of concentrated solar power coupled with advanced desalination system in the gulf region supported by EU-Horizon.
More details on the position and how to apply can be found at the link: https://lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:813073/
PhD Scholarship in Sustainable Membrane Manufacturing, University of Bath, UK
We announce a PhD position at the University of Bath (UK) in Sustainable Membrane Manufacturing.
For details on how to apply please check: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/sustainable-manufacturing-of-membranes/?p165289
For inquiries please contact Prof. Davide Mattia (phone: +44(0)1225383961, email: d.mattia@bath.ac.uk, website: https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/davide-mattia)
Project: Chemical separations are critical to many aspects of our daily lives, from the energy we use and the water we drink, to the medications we take. Separations consume 10-15% of the total energy used in the world, and high selectivity membranes could make these separations 10x more energy efficient.
However, most membranes are still prepared using polymers derived from fossil-fuels and toxic solvents. In this PhD project you will be pioneering the use of green solvents and biopolymers to prepare highly selective membranes for liquid separations. You will be part of a diverse research team, with extensive support in terms of materials synthesis and characterisation and membrane testing, including a brand-new membrane testing lab with a full-time technician to support students and researchers.
This PhD studentship is provided by the University of Bath as part of a £9Mn EPSRC-funded SynHiSel programme grant linking leading membrane researchers across the UK at six universities (Bath, Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London). You can find more information about SynHiSel at http://www.synhisel.com. SynHiSel encourages the development of collaborative projects among partners, including financial support to visit participating universities.
Candidate requirements: Applicants are expected to hold, or be about to obtain, a first class MChem/MEng or MSc degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering. They should have excellent laboratory skills for polymer/materials synthesis and characterization. The successful candidate will have exceptional team-working and communication skills, so as to interact effectively with other researchers at Bath and collaborating Universities.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Bath, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community. All appointments are made on merit
Funding Notes: Funding covers tuition fees and stipend (£19,237 p/a in 2024/25 and tax free) for 3 years.
PhD Position in Membrane Process Design, Oulu, Finland
We announce a PhD position in Membrane Process Design at the University of Oulu, Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Chemical Engineering in Finland.
Application deadline: 07.Apr.2025
Type of employment: Temporary position
Contract type: Full time
Salary: 2800-2900 euro
Number of positions : 1
Full-time equivalent: 100 %
City: Oulu
County: Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
Country: Finland
Reference number: 2025/209
Contact: Nora Jullok, +358504686891
More information is available at the link: https://oulunyliopisto.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:808425/