Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes

Angelo Basile, a Chemical Engineer with a Ph.D. in Technical Physics, was a senior Researcher at the ITM-CNR as a responsible for the research related to both ultra-pure hydrogen production and CO2 capture using Pd-based Membrane Reactors. He is a reviewer for 165 int. journals, an editor/author of more than 50 scientific books and 140 chapters on international books on membrane science and technology; with various patens (7 Italian, 2 European, and 1 worldwide). He is a referee of 1more than 150 international scientific journals and a Member of the Editorial Board of more than 20 of them. Basile is also an associate editor of the: Int. J. Hydrogen Energy; Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Eng.; journal Frontiers in Membrane Science and Technology; and co-Editor-in-chief of the Int. J. Membrane Science & Technol. Alfredo Cassano, a Biologist, is senior Researcher at ITM-CNR since 2000. He has a long experience in the field of membrane science and technology with research expertise including pressure-driven membrane processes, membrane contactors and integrated membrane operations mainly applied to wastewater treatments and agro-food productions.Cassano also prepared 4 special issues on membrane science and technology for 3 international journals (Membranes, Foods and Journal of Membrane Science and Research). He is involved as scientific responsible or main investigator in different national projects with both Italian Ministry of Education, University & Research and private companies and international projects funded by EU. He has been tutoring of 28 Thesis for master and Ph.D. students at ITM-CNR. Performed pioneering R&D work on various research aspects such as high pressure processing, forward osmosis, infusion of bioactive compounds, downstream processing of enzymes and proteins, modeling of synthesis of PHA, graphene nano-composite, designer oils, biofilms from chitosan, ultrasound and ozone for the preservation of fruit juices. All these efforts resulted in the culmination of more than 150 original research publication in reputed international journals and more than 100 presentations in various conferences. The quality of work evidenced from the higher total citations (6118 Nos) and h-index (43). Developed technology for five products namely, virgin coconut oil, spray dried coconut milk, honey based fruit spread, coconut beverage from tender coconut and coconut spread and transferred to several industries; as well as obtained 17 patents to his credit. Guided 10 Ph.D. students in the area of Food Science, Engineering, Technology, and Biotechnology; as well as in Biological and Engineering Sciences. Served on the panels of highly reputed journals as an Editor/Member of Editorial Board published by Elsevier, Wiley, Cosmos Scholars, Jakraya, Hindawi and Omics. Besides, two books entitled “Advances in membrane technologies for water treatment: Materials, processes and applications” (Woodhead Publishing Ltd., UK.) and “Application of high pressure in food processing” (Springer, USA) were co-edited/written. Research accomplishments were also recently recognized by the scientific bodies and award prestigious awards like the CSIR-Young Scientist Award; AFST-Young Scientist Award; AFST-Laljee Godhoo Nidhi Smarak Award; Fellow of AFST and NAAS; Seligman APV Fellowship by the SCI, London; DAAD Fellowship; DBT Overseas Fellowship; Merit promotion; CFTRI Technology Award. Several awards were also received him for the scientific presentations.

• PART I (Forward osmosis)1. Forward osmosis: Principles, applications, and recent developments2. Forward osmosis membrane and impact of spacer3. Draw solutes for Forward osmosis: Model, polymer hydrogels and nanoparticles4. Membrane fouling & hybrid forward osmosis process5. Modelling of FO Processes including Computational fluid dynamics model6. Design of forward osmosis system7. Forward osmosis for desalination and mining waste water8. Applications of forward osmosis process in food processing and future implicationsPART II (Reverse osmosis) 9. Fundamentals and Basics of Reverse Osmosis10. Membranes and Spacers for Reverse Osmosis11. Reverse Osmosis pre-treatment techniques, fouling and control strategies12. Reverse Osmosis modelling, simulation and optimization13. Reverse Osmosis System Design14. Reverse osmosis in integrated membrane systems15. Reverse osmosis for industrial water treatment16. Reverse osmosis applications in food processing Conclusion: Cost analysis of FO and RO in a case study