State-of-the-Art Membrane Science and Technology in Italy 2021

Membranes and membrane operations have been receiving increasing interest since several decades, with significant involvements in water purification and desalination, where they have become the dominant technologies. However, the constant development of new membranes materials and configurations is essential to support and to expand the growing attention in those and in new advanced sectors like energy production (fuel cells, hydrogen production, salinity gradients), biotechnology, healthcare and medical applications (tissue engineering, artificial organs, regenerative medicine, in-vitro devices), gas separations and intensified manufacturing processes, to cite only a few. Membrane science and technology is today one of the fast-growing and multidisciplinary research areas also in Italy. Academic scientists and industries in Italy have now demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting the advancements of membranes operations, considered as the future of the technology development in several strategic sectors in the fields of water, energy, health and environment.