Amphiphilic Molecules

Abstract

The Encyclopedia of Membranes is a reference work that covers all aspects of membrane science and technology, from basic phenomena to the most advanced applications and future perspectives. It is aimed at students, graduate students, academic and industrial researchers, and practitioners. The Encyclopedia of Membranes is organized around a list of searchable Entries or Terms, in alphabetical order, giving the user fast and easy access to terminology, description, theory, and application of membrane science. Entries range from one to several printed pages and are written by one or multiple authors. Authors are both from academic institutions, research agencies, and industries. The development of the Encyclopedia is undertaken by the Chief Editors, Prof. Enrico Drioli and Dr. Lidietta Giorno, responsible for the selection of the topics, the terms, and the quality of the contributions. An Advisory Board was identified to discuss major items and promote holistic vision of the work. An Editorial Board assisted the Chief Editors in their activities. The Encyclopedia of Membranes is a landmark work covering the science, technology, and application of membranes, membrane operations, and related fields. A membrane is a nanostructured/functionalized thin barrier that controls the exchange phenomena (matter and energy) between two different phases, both through the external forces and under the effect of fluid properties, and also through the intrinsic characteristics of the membrane material itself. Membranes are used in various applications. They differ widely in their structure, in their function, and the way they are operated. Membranes may be biological or synthetic, solid or liquid, homogeneous or heterogeneous, isotropic or anisotropic, and it can be a fraction of a micrometer or various millimeters thick. The application of different membrane structures and driving forces caused a number of rather different membrane processes such as micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, dialysis and electrodialysis, pervaporation, gas separation, membrane contactors (membrane distillation, membrane crystallizer, membrane strippers, membrane scrubbers, membrane condenser, membrane emulsifier), membrane reactors, catalytic membrane reactor, etc.