Membrane Separations for Process Intensification and Sustainable Growth

Because of its high charge of innovation and, mainly, its well fit with the requirements of process intensification strategy for a sustainable industrial growth, membrane technology has been by now well established in an increasing number of industrial processes. Brackish and/or seawater desalination, for meeting the increasing demand of fresh water in various areas in the world; industrial wastewater treatment, for the reduction of the polluting charge or for the recovery, by specific separation, of some important and valuable molecules having special nutritional properties (nutraceuticals); milder treatment conditions in agro-food processes for products required with a high level of organoleptic characteristics but sensitive to thermal treatments, represent today only some examples of the important benefits from membrane science. Furthermore, integrated membrane systems are recognized as to become, for the next few years, an interesting way for a better rationalisation and more productive industrial cycles. In conjunction with new membrane-based devices like membrane contactors, these integrated systems are allowing to achieve high selective separation operations, with benefits for the whole productive sectors. This paper gives an overview of the application of membrane technology in some selected industrial cycles.