NUS launches Membrane Science and Technology Consortium to promote membrane related research in Singapore
The National University of Singapore (NUS) has launched a new consortium to bring together academic researchers and industry partners to promote membrane-related research in Singapore. Called the Membrane Science and Technology Consortium (MSTC), this consortium aims to boost basic, applied andtranslational research over a range of membrane topics, with particular emphasis on water, energy and environmental applications within the municipal and industrial sectors. This will help to raise Singapore 's visibility in the membrane technology domain, encouraging more research collaborations, translational and commercialisation activities, and funding opportunities.
Membranes represent permeable and selective barriers for the separation or retention of components from mixtures involving liquid and gas phases. Advances in membrane science and technology have wide applications in areas such as water purification, environmental protection, energy security, climate change, urbanisation, and food-and-beverage processing. The global demand for membrane technology has been rising rapidly and innovations in this area are expected to open new markets in the coming decade.
The MSTC functions as an umbrella organisation, linking researchers in membrane related fields. Three research themes have been identified: 1) Novel membrane materials and fabrication; 2) Membrane modules and innovative processes; and 3) Membrane systems operation, integration and optimisation. The MSTC is supported by the NUS Faculty of Engineering (FoE) and the Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology). It is also supported by the NUS Industry Liaison Office (ILO), which is part of NUS Enterprise, as MSTC is an important platform in encouraging technology transfer and the commercialisation of new research.
Currently more than 25 faculty researchers (MSTC Fellows) have signed up under the MSTC, across the NUS Faculties of Engineering and Science. Various large and small enterprise companies as well as government agencies have also joined the MSTC Industry and Government Affiliates Programme (IGAP). Further linkages are being developed with global academic and institutional partners involved in membrane-related research.
"The MSTC will encourage collaborations, which will hopefully lead to the development of novel membrane materials and innovative membrane process technologies. We also hope the MSTC will help further build up international recognition of NUS as being at the forefront of membrane research as well as a key player in translational research leading to new applications that benefit mankind," said Professor Ho Teck Hua, Deputy President (Research and Technology), NUS.
Over the past 10 years, NUS has secured nearly S$50 million in funding for membrane-related research, from organisations such as the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Economic Development Board (EDB), and the Environment & Water Industry (EWI) Programme Office led by PUB, Singapore 's national water agency, as well as the relevant industry sectors. Some key NUS membrane research projects include:
1) A new desalination process "copying" nature – Mangrove trees thrive in a seawater environment, where other land plants would die due to excess salt in the water. This is possible because mangrove trees demonstrate salt exclusion at their roots, where a waxy substance, called suberin, forms at specific cell layers, preventing 95% of salt entering the plant root. Some mangrove trees are also able to secrete excess salt through microscopic salt glands at the leaves. A team led by Professor Prakash Kumar from the Department of Biological Sciences is studying this phenomenon, to better understand the transport of salt across a cell membrane. Researchers will examine the transport properties of selected proteins and attempt to incorporate these proteins into a biomimetic membrane (a membrane that incorporates biological elements). Potential applications for this membrane include water purification and desalination. This project is supported by a grant from NRF.
2) Organic solvent nanofiltration - Organic solvents are widely used in the pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals industries. Solvent waste is typically incinerated. The efficient recovery and reuse of solvents from this waste can reduce costs significantly and at the same time promote environmentally- sustainable manufacturing processes. Currently, it is estimated that less than 50% of solvents are recovered due to high costs associated with conventional recovery methods, such as distillation. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) is a promising method to not only recover organic solvents, but also concentrate high value pharmaceutical and petrochemical products. The challenge is to develop cost- efficient OSN membranes with the required permeability, selectivity and configuration. A team led by Professor Neal Chung Tai-Shung from the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, aims to develop novel solvent-resistant, hollow-fibre membranes with controllable nano-scale pores for solvent recovery. This project has significant relevance to Singapore, which is a key global manufacturing site for pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals. This project is supported by a grant from NRF.
3) Anaerobic membrane bioreactor – This has applications in wastewater treatment (both industrial and domestic), water reuse and energy recovery. The anaerobic membrane bioreactor converts organics present in wastewater into biogas, which is a source of energy. At the same time, it produces cleaner water by removing micro-organisms and other suspended solids. A team led by Associate Professor Ng How Yong from the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is developing this bioreactor, by combining anaerobic digestion and membrane technology. As one of the challenges of treating industrial wastewater is the high salt concentration, Assoc Prof Ng and his team are working to develop an anaerobic membrane bioreactor using salt-tolerant bacteria that can convert organics in waste water into methane gas. The research team is also looking at ways to reduce membrane fouling.
"PUB is heartened by the coordinated efforts in advancing R&D in membrane technologies," said Harry Seah, Chief Technology Officer of PUB, Singapore's national water agency. "Membrane technology has played a vital role in the development and augmentation of Singapore's water resources through seawater desalination and NEWater, and continuous improvements in membrane technologies remain a keen interest given that desalinated water and NEWater are estimated to meet up to 80% of Singapore's water needs by 2060."
