Plenary lecture Prof. V. Nikonenko (download presentation)
The Conference is devoted to fundamental and applied problems of membrane and sorption processes.
TOPICS:
- synthesis of organic and inorganic membranes
- ion exchange and sorption
- structure and properties of membranes
- ion and water transport in membranes and membrane systems
- bipolar membranes
- modification of membrane materials
- actual problems of membrane electrochemistry
- membrane catalysis, interface phenomena
- mass transfer intensification in electromembrane
- modules
- desalination, concentration, purification and separation of liquid mixtures by electrodialysis, hybrid membrane methods
- membranes in hydrogen energy
- membrane nanoscience and nanotechnology
ICREA Symposium Nanofluidics, Colloids & Membranes, July 16-18, Barcelona
(http://icreasymposium.eq.upc.edu/)
Co-chaired by Andriy Yaroshchuk (ICREA and Polytechnic University of Catalonia) and Martin Bazant (MIT)
In the scientific literature, the keyword “nano-fluidics” appeared for the first time in 1998. A massive publication record started in 2001, and since then ca. 1300 papers have been published that use this term. The goal of this ICREA Symposium is to integrate this burgeoning, interdisciplinary field of research with more mature scientific communities in colloid and membrane science, in order to catalyze new scientific advances and collaborations.
It is slowly becoming appreciated that many “nano-fluidic” phenomena were discovered and extensively studied earlier in colloid and membrane science, albeit motivated by different applications and without the benefit of current experimental capabilities. For example, electrokinetic and coagulation phenomena, which are central to colloid science, are controlled by body forces that act at distances of several nanometers from charged interfaces. Current-induced concentration polarization (sometimes considered a “signature” of nano-fluidics as opposed to micro-fluidics) is well known in membrane science and is a physico-chemical basis of electrodialysis. The selective distribution and permeation of ions of different charges are basic phenomena in ion exchange and electrodialysis. A bipolar membrane is, in fact, a nanofluidic diode, and so on.
On the other hand, the field of nanofluidics has also demonstrated some new phenomena and applications, especially in non-equilibrium confined systems. For example, electro-osmotic flows have been used to drive chaotic fluid mixing in microfluidic devices, and propagating “shocks” of concentration polarization in nanochannels have been observed. Novel molecular-scale effects have also been demonstrated, e.g. related to particle transport in carbon nanotubes. Perhaps most importantly, the emergence of nanofluidics has opened the possibility of observing and controlling transport phenomena with unprecedented precision, down to the nanometer scale. As a result, classical theories of ion transport and surface interactions can now be systematically tested and improved.
The Symposium seeks to provide nanofluidic researchers with inspiration from colloid/membrane science, as well as keywords, author names, and references to the classical literature. Conversely, the Symposium will expose colloid and membrane scientists to recent advances in nanofluidics, in the hope of encouraging their contributions and showing new opportunities for experiments and applications of which they could only dream in years past.
Thus, bringing together members of nanofluidic and colloid/membrane research communities will promote a very beneficial two-way information exchange. These are some more specific examples of topics to be addressed:
- concentration polarization vs. space charge: these concepts have often been used interchangeably in nanofluidic literature but actually they are not identical. This issue has been extensively studied in the context of electro-membrane processes. In particular, the role of electrokinetic and electro-hydrodynamic instabilities has been addressed.
- flow instabilities under non-linear conditions. These can be quite sensitive to the system geometry. Accordingly, it is crucial to have it well-defined as in nano-engineered systems. The new flow-visualization possibilities offered by nano-engineered systems can also be very useful.
- Micro-nano interfaces. Through such interfaces nano-fluidic systems are linked to the “macro-world”. To what an extent studies of nano-porous media (e.g., nano-porous glasses) can be useful for understanding processes at interfaces between nano- and micro-channels?
- Applicability of quasi-macroscopic approaches at nano-scale. One can expect deviations from macroscopic regularities when the smallest system dimension becomes comparable to the solvent correlation length. Even in polar solvents like water it is quite short (ca. 0.7 nm). Are there effects of interfaces on solvent properties beyond this length? In colloid/membrane science there has been an ongoing discussion on this for ca. 50 years. Could the unprecedented experimental opportunities offered by nano-fluidics help elucidate this issue?
Symposium 2nd circular
CoTraPhen Workshop, July 19-20, Barcelona
“Electromembrane processes and materials” 26-29 Aug, Prague Czech Republic
http://www.elmempro.com/En/
From material structure to process design Membrane processes are a class of modern technologies that are receiving increasing attention in the well developed industrialized countries. Electromembrane processes represent an important part of membrane processes, offering solutions to the numerous issues currently troubling society. This concerns not only modern, large- medium- and small-scale technologies providing high purity and added value products with minimum pollution of the environment, but also technologies related to the hydrogen economy (fuel cells, water electrolysis) widely discussed in scientific as well as political circles. Electromembrane separation processes like electrodialysis and electrodeionization are further important technologies. Despite these facts and despite the significant progress these technologies have made during the last few years, they are only seldom discussed individually as an important interdisciplinary subject at the interface between materials science and electrochemical engineering. The aim of this satellite meeting is to offer a specialized forum for researchers as well as industrialists involved in this field as well as for those interested in obtaining an up-to-date overview. The timing of this meeting directly after the ISE Annual Meeting in Prague enables participants involved in this research to participate in both events. The specialized focus of this event aims to attract the attention of experts outside the field of electrochemistry, thus creating a truly interdisciplinary event so vitally important for rapid advances in this field.
Topics
- Membrane materials (polymer, hybrid, inorganic)
- Electromembrane processes (membrane electrolysis, electrodialysis, electrodeionisation)
- Fuel cells and other energy conversion processes (fuel cells, redox batteries, water electrolysis, reverse electrodialysis)
- Sensors
- Mathematical modeling
- Industrial and combined processes
“C2C Conference” 13-16 Aug, Shanghai China
www.scirp.org/workshop/2012/
C2C embraced the meaning of Conference to China, Connect to China, channel to communicate, Come to China. But not limited to the above. C2C conference is an essential resource for scientists, engineers, researchers, and developers from the fields of Nanoscience and Materials，Applied Mathematics, Chemical Science and Engineering，Biochemical studies and Biomedicine，Image and Signal Processing both in and out of China. C2C conference provides you a great opportunity to connect with the whole world.
“14th Aachener Membran Kolloquium” 7-8 Nov, Aachen Germany
http://www.amk.rwth-aachen.de/
The biennial “Aachener Membran Kolloquium” (AMK), organised by the Chair of Chemical Process Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, continues to be the international conference on industrial membrane applications.
As Hartmut Brüschke, formerly Sulzer Chemtech and a true membrane pioneer puts it, ”the AMK is still the best opportunity to catch up on new developments and trends of today’s booming membrane industry”. While most other conferences tend to focus much on materials science and others specialize on specific membrane technologies, the AMK tries to bring together people from a broad range of backgrounds with the aim of interdisciplinary knowledge exchange on membrane innovations. The topics of the presentations will be a well-balanced mixture discussing membranes in water treatment, gas separation, solvent recovery, process engineering, energy applications, biotechnology and health. The development of new membranes will be treated as well as operational experiences and module design with an emphasis of industrial relevance
The lecture program will be accompanied by a sizeable industrial exhibition, a large number of posters and time for valuable discussion.
"The 2012 Int’l Conference on Advances in Membrane Water Treatment (AMWT’12)" 26-29 Aug, Seoul Korea
http://acem12.cti3.com/amwt12.htm
"The 2012 Int’l Conference on Advances in Membrane Water Treatment
(AMWT’12)" will be held during 26-29 August 2012 at COEX (Convention & Exhibitions) in Seoul, Korea. The Conference will be held in association with the “Membrane Water Treatment, An International Journal” and under the umbrella of the World Congress ACEM'12. The main objective of the Conference is to exchange the scientific information on Membrane Water Treatment Technology among the interested scientists and engineers from all over the world. |
