PREFACE
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on April 13, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 27, 1981 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1981-0154.pr001
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his volume is the result of a symposium honoring Drs. Sidney Loeb and S. Sourirajan on the 20th anniversary of their discovery of the first functionally useful reverse osmosis membrane. During this four-day symposium membrane experts from 13 countries participated in paying tribute to Drs. Loeb and Sourirajan's pioneering efforts and 55 papers were presented covering most areas of membrane uses. These included the salt-rejecting dense membranes for reverse osmosis, which, as Dr. Sourirajan noted in his plenary lecture, is really a misnomer and might be described more accurately as hyperfiltration, and the more porous membranes for ultrafiltration. The large number of papers necessitated publishing the symposium in two volumes. Volume I describes the desalination and salt-rejecting hyperfiltration membranes. Volume II covers hyper- and ultrafiltration membrane utilization in the following areas: food, medicine, pulp, paper, and textile industries, oily waste stream purification, and in the separation of gases, polymers, organic solutes, and biopolymers. Many of these uses are very significant since they are described from the point of extensive commercial experience. This is particularly true of the food, medical, and waste treatment fields. For example, cheese whey solids that previously were pollution problems are recovered now at the rate of several hundred tons/day and sold as valuable food. Similarly the recent advances of hemofiltration over hemodialysis are improving the quality of life for thousands of patients who suffer from renal failure. Also pollution abatement by ultra- and hyperfiltration in the pulp, textile, and steel-processing industries is now a commercial reality for certain types of waste streams. As the membrane field continues to expand, specific membranes will be available to perform an ever-widening series of important functions and much of the impetus for such expansion will be based on the original efforts of Drs. Loeb and Sourirajan. The overwhelming number of papers originally submitted for consideration for this symposium coupled with the outstanding attendance at the symposium attest to the high esteem in which these two gentlemen are held by their peers. It was a distinct honor to take part in this 20th anniversary tribute. I would like to thank all of the participants for their wonderful cooperation in making this occasion such a great success. I.T.T. Rayonier, Inc.
ALBIN F . TURBAK
Eastern Research Division Whippany, NJ 07981
December 24, 1980. ix
Turbak; Synthetic Membranes: Volume II ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1981.
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on April 13, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 27, 1981 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1981-0154.pr001
S. Sourirajan, Albin Turbak, and Sidney Loeb
Turbak; Synthetic Membranes: Volume II ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1981.
DEDICATION
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on April 13, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 27, 1981 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1981-0154.pr001
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wenty years ago two researchers laboring diligently at the University of California at Los Angeles developed the first modified asymmetric membranes which seemed to have commercial potential for what was to become the exciting field that today is known as hyperfiltration or reverse osmosis. Since that time, these dedicated scientists have given freely of themselves and their talents not only to further contribute technically, but also to help guide, teach, and train others to grow in this frontier area. It is little wonder then that so many contributors from so many countries throughout the world responded so enthusiastically to the initial announcement regarding the organization of a symposium to recognize, honor, and pay tribute to Drs. Sidney Loeb and S. Sourirajan on the 20th anniversary of their initial contribution. From the beginning it was apparent that this four-day symposium covering a seeming myriad of membrane information and uses would be one of the major events of the Fall 1980 Las Vegas A.C.S. National Meeting. This symposium, highlighted by plenary lectures from Drs. Loeb and Sourirajan, had an outstanding attendance. Even on the fourth day there were still more people attending this symposium than normally are present for the initial phases of most other sessions. This in itself says more than anyone could say regarding the universal interest in membranes and the high esteem in which Sid Loeb and S. Sourirajan are held by their peers throughout the world. Today their initial work on the preparation of suitable asymmetric membranes has touched nearly every aspect of life including uses in water purification, food technology, biological separations, waste treatment, medical applications, and bioengineering, and this appears to be just the beginning. I know that I speak for all of their many friends when I take this opportunity to wish Drs. Loeb and Sourirajan continued good health and, if possible, even more success in their future research and development efforts. ALBIN F. TURBAK
xi
Turbak; Synthetic Membranes: Volume II ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1981.
