Membrane Technology for Air Cleaning: Fabrication, Characterization and Application

This book highlights a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the science and technology of gas cleaning membranes. Starting from basic concepts and principles, the book covers the preparation methods, performance parameters, and advances in applications of different types of membrane materials.

Industrial smoke and dust emissions are one of the main causes of atmospheric haze. How to strictly control the emission of ultrafine dust and achieve efficient and clean utilization of resources is a common problem faced by industries related to chemical engineering, energy, steel, metallurgy, and building materials. There is an urgent need for new separation technologies. The low efficiency of traditional dust removal technologies cannot meet increasingly strict emission requirements. Membrane technologies provide an effective approach for PM2.5 control with its high separation efficiency and low energy consumption. Especially for the purification of high-temperature gases, it can maximize the utilization of the physical sensible heat of the gas and achieve energy recovery.

This book first introduces relevant concepts and terms, separation principles, structure characterization, and evaluation methods of gas cleaning membranes. According to the characteristics of application environments, the preparation methods, performance parameters and application progress of different types of membrane materials, including those for medium and low temperature gases, high temperature gases as well as multi-functional membranes, are described in detail. Relevant equipment and typical application cases in indoor air purification, medical, and industrial fields are discussed. The book also summarizes latest theoretical research frontiers and projects future development trends in this field.

This book can be used as a valuable reference for undergraduate and graduate students in materials science, chemical engineering, environmental engineering and researchers engaged in the development of air filtration materials and gas purification technology.

The English translation of this book, originally in Chinese, was facilitated by artificial intelligence. The content was later revised by the author for accuracy.

Dr. Zhaoxiang Zhong is a distinguished professor at the College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, China, and concurrently holds the position of the Director of the Discipline Development Department at Nanjing Tech University. He was a visiting scholar at Monash University, Australia from 2012 to 2013. Dr. Zhong has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and been honored with the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund of China, and the position of Chief Scientist of a National Key R&D Program. Dr. Zhong also directs the Gas Purification Membrane and Equipment Engineering Laboratory for the Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Industry and contributes to the academic community as an editorial board member for journals such as Membranes, Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, and Advanced Membranes. His leadership extends to professional committees, where he serves as the Director of the Special Separation Membrane Professional Committee and the Deputy Director of the Hydrophobic Membrane Professional Committee at the Membrane Industry Association of China. Additionally, he is the Deputy Secretary-General of the Porous Materials Branch of the Chinese Materials Research Society and the Deputy Director of the Filtration and Separation Professional Committee of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China. Dr. Zhong's research is centered on the development and application of functional membrane materials.

Dr. Weihong Xing is currently a professor at College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, China. She also serves as the President of Jiangsu University and the Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Nanjing Tech University, China. She received her PhD in chemical engineering from Nanjing Tech University (2002), China. She has published four monographs, more than 300 peer-reviewed papers. Her research achievements have won five National Science and Technology Awards, a Ho Liang Ho Li Foundation Science and Technology Progress Award, a National Innovation Pioneer Award, a Hou Debang Chemical Science and Technology Achievement Award, and some other prestigious awards. She also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Membrane Industry Association of China, the Director of the Female Workers in Science and Technology Committee of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and the Founding and Executive Editor of the journal Advanced Membranes. She has been elected as a national outstanding professional and technical talent and enjoys special government allowances from the State Council of China. Her research interests include membrane materials, separation engineering, and membrane reactors.