Editorial pubs.acs.org/IECR
Preface to the Special Issue on “Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-based Water Purification Methods”
T
his present special issue of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (I&EC) embodies selected papers on “Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-based Water Purif ication Methods” presented at the second Workshop of the Nano4water Cluster, held in Chalkidiki, Greece on April 24−25, 2012. The technical program included 28 oral presentations and 18 posters focusing on the nanotechnology-based water purification methods. The Nano4water Cluster was established in 2009 to facilitate dissemination of results among the participating European Research Institutions and Industries engaged in R&D activities related with the application of nanotechnology to water treatment methods. The Nano4water Cluster comprises partners coming from 17 EU funded programs, namely, CleanWater, MONACAT, Nametech, NewED, WATERMIM, MEMBAQ, NATIOMEM, CERAMPOL, Nanopur, CeraWater, NanoSelect, LbLBRANE, BacWire, MultiPlat, BioNexGen, SurFunCell, and ChemWater. Water treatment and purification are undoubtedly among the most important topics in the environmental technologies. Membrane processes, nanosized materials, and the combination from both offer a wide range of possibilities and ways for water treatment by means of filtration and catalytic processes. Advances in nanoscale science and engineering suggest that many of the current problems involving water quality could be resolved or greatly ameliorated using nanosorbents, nanocatalysts, bioactive nanoparticles, nanostructured catalytic membranes, and nanoparticle enhanced filtration among other products and processes resulting from the development of nanotechnology. Innovations in the development of novel technologies to desalinate water are among the most exciting and promising. The thematic areas of the Workshop included the following topics: nanostructured membranes and nanocatalysts, molecularly imprinted materials, nanosorbents, biomimetic membranes, and membrane bioreactors (MBR). All Cluster Projects presented ongoing work and achievements, addressing a wide range of issues and aspects relevant to upgrading and intensifying water treatment processes via nanotechnologybased methods. We would like to thank the European Commission for the financial support of all Nano4water Cluster Projects under the seventh Framework Programme, and in particular Dr. Stefaan Vandendriessche for the initiation of this activity. We would also like to thank all those who made this conference possible. Particular thanks go to the editors of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research who embraced the idea for this special issue and helped us make it possible.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Notes
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS. The authors declare no competing financial interest.
Special Issue: Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-based Water Purification Methods
Costas Kiparissides, Professor
Received: July 24, 2013 Accepted: July 30, 2013 Published: October 2, 2013
Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki © 2013 American Chemical Society
Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas (
[email protected]. gr)
13889
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie402379r | Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013, 52, 13889−13889
