Overview of Membrane Science and Technology in Portugal
Liliana C. Tomé,
Diogo M. F. Santos,
Svetlozar Velizarov,
Isabel M. Coelhoso,
Adélio Mendes,
João G. Crespo,
Maria Norberta de Pinho
Affiliations
Liliana C. Tomé
LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Diogo M. F. Santos
Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials (CeFEMA), Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies (LaPMET), Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Svetlozar Velizarov
LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Isabel M. Coelhoso
LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Adélio Mendes
LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
João G. Crespo
LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Maria Norberta de Pinho
Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials (CeFEMA), Laboratory for Physics of Materials and Emerging Technologies (LaPMET), Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Membrane research in Portugal is aligned with global concerns and expectations for sustainable social development, thus progressively focusing on the use of natural resources and renewable energy. This review begins by addressing the pioneer work on membrane science and technology in Portugal by the research groups of Instituto Superior Técnico—Universidade de Lisboa (IST), NOVA School of Science and Technology—Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT NOVA) and Faculdade de Engenharia—Universidade do Porto (FEUP) aiming to provide an historical perspective on the topic. Then, an overview of the trends and challenges in membrane processes and materials, mostly in the last five years, involving Portuguese researchers, is presented as a contribution to a more sustainable water–energy–material–food nexus.
