RESEARCH INTERESTS

	R&D OF NEW MATERIALS FOR ADVANCED SEPARATION APPLICATIONS, e.g., use of functionalised magnetic nanoparticles in the development of improved draw solutions and in the removal of Arsenic from polluted waters; new polymeric-ILs composite membranes for application in gas separation and high efficiency fuell cells.
	NEW SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES based on enhanced driving forces, eg., diffusion in a magnetic field for the recovery or draw solutions, diffusion in an electric field for the recovery of acids, etc.
	NEW SEPARATION PROCESSES based on the combination of membrane technologies, MF, UF, NF, RO, Dialysis, Electrodialysis, Pervaporation, Osmotic Distillation, Gas Permeation, etc. Application to hydrogen recovery from industrial flue gases, CO recovery, recovery of high added value milk proteins, recovery of chemicals from desalination brines, etc.
	NEW PRODUCTION PROCESSES based on the combination reaction and separation units, eg., reactive separations, membrane reactors, etc. Applications to CO2 capture and DME production, remediation of treated waters, recovery of metals and acids from waste baths and effluents in the surface treatment processes, etc.
	PROCESS SIMULATION AND OPTIMISATION using advanced software such as ASPEN CUSTOM MODELLER, CFX-ANSYS, etc., eg. Manufacture of ligh gas olefins, ethylene and propylene, manufacture of synthetic rubber, manufacture of oxygenated ethers, etc.

RESEARCH BENEFICIARIES

	ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION: i.e. treatment of industrial effluents, water regeneration and reuse, characterisation of contaminated soils, materials recovery from hazardous wastes, …
	FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND AQUICULTURE: R&D on new separation processes and purification of high added value products, i.e. proteins such as lactoferrin, BSA, natural flavours, BAT in aquiculture production, partial wine dealcoholisation,…
	CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: process optimisation and intensification, integration of reaction and separation units; design of new processes, eg. separation of olefin-parafin mixtures (propane-propylene, ethane-ethylene); recovery of hydrogen and CO from flue gases, solvents recovery,…
	PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: solvents recovery, purification processes.
	RENEWABLE ENERGIES: New membranes for high efficiency Fuel Cells.