Preface : 60 Years of the Loeb-Sourirajan Membrane

Abstract

It has been over 60 years since the development of the first asymmetric polymeric membrane by Dr. Sidney Loeb and Dr. Srinivasa Sourirajan (University of California, Los Angeles, United States) for seawater desalination. Research in membrane science and technology has progressed rapidly over the past decades, and many new and advanced materials (both organic and inorganic) have been discovered and employed in the fabrication of membranes and the modification of their properties. It is therefore of paramount importance to summarize the fundamental understanding of and information about these membranes and their distinctive applications. In this book a comprehensive overview of membrane technology is presented, from the fundamental knowledge of fabrication principles and separation mechanisms to a wide range of applications, including new and emerging processes.