Until the 90 s ECN developed membranes for microfiltration and ultrafiltration. ECN chose to develop these membranes on the basis of inorganic materials because of their high resistance to aggressive chemical conditions and stability at high temperatures. Especially in these application fields inorganic membranes offer substantial energy savings possibilities. Other exiting opportunities for these kind of membranes are the possibilities for process intensification. The availability of affordable membranes opens ways to combine reaction and separation in one single system.
Opportunities arise to come to new products and new, less energy-consuming production processes.
The research group has many contacts and owns several essential patents. Fundamental research for new materials, manufacturing technologies, optimisation of recipes, pilot production of tube membranes, quality control and junction technology. Methodological design of labscale, pilot scale and full-size membrane modules with minimal dispersion effects. Exploration of applications for the chemical, pharmaceutical, diary and food industry. Modelling Modelling and flowsheeting of membrane separation and catalytic processes on behalf of the development of complete integrated systems.