EMS Webinar on October 27, 2025 – Dr. Anita Buekenhoudt
Dr. Anita Buekenhoudt will give the next EMS webinar scheduled for October 27 at 1 pm CET on the EMS Youtube Channel.
Webinar Title: Applied membrane research for chemical industry: technical and economic feasibility, scalability, predictability
Biography:
Dr. Anita Buekenhoudt graduated in 1983 at the UAntwerpen as master in physics. In 1990 she obtained a PhD in solid-state physics at the University of Leuven. After a two year post-doc, she joined the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO in Mol. There she has been working more than 30 years in the Business Unit Materials and Chemistry (MATCH) as project manager, senior scientist and team leader of the membrane team. Her work focuses on the development, characterization and application of porous membranes in a broad range of challenging liquid separations relevant for the chemical industry. For this purpose her team develops new processes and own innovative ceramic membranes supported by data-driven modelling, all in collaboration with several university and/or industrial partners. She has attracted and managed numerous national and international funded R&D projects, and contract work for industry on this topic. She is author of over 100 publications, 5 book chapters, 100 international presentations, and inventor of 11 patents.
Abstract:
This lecture will be a testimony of over 30 years of applied membrane research at VITO, Belgium. Working with industry towards robust solutions for real-life separation problems, creates its own dynamics and goals. Applied research strives for experimental proof of concept at intermediate scale, evidence of economic feasibility, and validation of process robustness by long term piloting. Process and performance prediction, to support and fast track membrane selection, is an extra asset. VITO applies these principles not only for membrane processes, but also for membrane synthesis. This lecture will highlight the importance of the different aspects based on a variety of examples elaborated with/for chemical industry.