Integrated Membrane Systems and Processes

The combination of membrane unit operations in the overall purification or production scheme of industrial processes is an emerging tool for improving product quality as well as process capacity and selectivity. The specific feature of hybrid processes is the synergy resulting from this integration, which enhances process effectiveness. Pressure-driven membrane processes have been often associated with a cascade configuration in purification processes. New perspectives arise from the combination of these processes with innovative membrane techniques such as membrane distillation (MD), membrane emulsification (ME), membrane bioreactor (MBr), pervaporation (PV), and molecular imprinted membranes. Such an approach allows one to redesign the traditional schemes of industrial production in agreement with process intensification and zero-discharge strategies. This Special Issue aims to provide some relevant examples of integrated membrane operations in different fields, including water desalination, food industry, wastewater treatment, biotechnology, and pharmaceutics. It welcomes both original contributions and reviews on the present state of the research and advancement of hybrid membrane systems in these fields, highlighting the advantages over conventional technologies in terms of product quality, plant compactness, rationalization and optimization of productive cycles, and reduction of environmental impact and energy consumption.