Antifouling Membranes Incorporating Surface-Tailored Nanomaterials for Energy-Efficient Desalination and Wastewater Reuse
with Menachem Elimelech
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
Monday, October 22
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Biodesign Auditorium
Water scarcity is one of the greatest global crises that we currently face. The only methods to increase water supply beyond what is available from the hydrological cycle are desalination and wastewater reuse. Highly effective, low-cost, robust technologies for desalination and wastewater reuse are needed, with minimal impact on the environment. Major developments in these membrane-based technologies are possible due to recent advances in materials science, nanotechnology, and the fundamental understanding of the solid-water interface.
In this presentation, it will be shown that we can exploit novel nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, block copolymers, and engineered nanoparticles to develop better approaches to design and fabricate membrane materials. By integrating the facile processability, light-weight, and low-cost features of organic polymers with functionality provided by inorganic nanostructures we can develop a new membrane materials platform with applications in desalination and wastewater reuse.
Biosketch
Menachem Elimelech is the Roberto Goizueta Professor at the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University. Professor Elimelech received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Hebrew University in Israel and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University in 1989 in Environmental Engineering. His research interests include: engineered osmosis for sustainable production of water and power; environmental applications and implications of nanomaterials; membrane separations for desalination and water reuse; and water and sanitation in developing countries.
Professor Elimelech was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2006 and was awarded the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize in 2005.
