Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes: Engineering with Membranes discusses various aspects of membrane engineering. This includes, but is not limited to, the role of membranes in food production, treatment and recovery, their applications in electrochemical processes and devices, in drug delivery and in ionic materials, such as salts, acids and bases, recovery. In addition, this book approaches the above topics in a different angle than the existing publications, i.e., reviews technical difficulties, environmental challenges and economic analysis. Membranes are one of the technologies which can affect various aspects of engineering dealing with feeds and products. Membranes demonstrate selective purifying properties, hence, membranes can help in the removal of various pollutants onsite and without the need of adding extra units and apparatuses. Besides that, membranes help reactions shift forward and make the whole process more efficient.

Artificial organs may be considered as small-scale process plants, in which heat, mass and momentum transfer operations and, possibly, chemical transformations are carried out. This book proposes a novel analysis of artificial organs based on the typical bottom-up approach used in process engineering. Starting from a description of the fundamental physico-chemical phenomena involved in the process, the whole system is rebuilt as an interconnected ensemble of elemental unit operations. Each artificial organ is presented with a short introduction provided by expert clinicians. Devices commonly used in clinical practice are reviewed and their performance is assessed and compared by using a mathematical model based approach. Whilst mathematical modelling is a fundamental tool for quantitative descriptions of clinical devices, models are kept simple to remain focused on the essential features of each process. Postgraduate students and researchers in the field of chemical and biomedical engineering will find that this book provides a novel and useful tool for the analysis of existing devices and, possibly, the design of new ones. This approach will also be useful for medical researchers who want to get a deeper insight into the basic working principles of artificial organs.

Artificial organs may be considered as small-scale process plants, in which heat, mass and momentum transfer operations and, possibly, chemical transformations are carried out. This book proposes a novel analysis of artificial organs based on the typical bottom-up approach used in process engineering. Starting from a description of the fundamental physico-chemical phenomena involved in the process, the whole system is rebuilt as an interconnected ensemble of elemental unit operations. Each artificial organ is presented with a short introduction provided by expert clinicians. Devices commonly used in clinical practice are reviewed and their performance is assessed and compared by using a mathematical model based approach. Whilst mathematical modelling is a fundamental tool for quantitative descriptions of clinical devices, models are kept simple to remain focused on the essential features of each process. Postgraduate students and researchers in the field of chemical and biomedical engineering will find that this book provides a novel and useful tool for the analysis of existing devices and, possibly, the design of new ones. This approach will also be useful for medical researchers who want to get a deeper insight into the basic working principles of artificial organs.

Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes: Membrane Applications in Artificial Organs and Tissue Engineering reports on membrane applications in the field of biomedical engineering, ranging from artificial organs, to tissue engineering. The book offers a comprehensive review of all the current scientific developments and various applications of membranes in this area. It is a key reference text for R&D managers in industry who are interested in the development of artificial and bioartificial organs, as well as academic researchers and postgraduate students working in the wider area of artificial organs and tissue engineering.

Membrane Reactors for Energy Applications and Basic Chemical Production presents a discussion of the increasing interest in membrane reactors that has emerged in recent years from both the scientific and industrial communities, in particular their usage for energy applications and basic chemical production. Part One of the text investigates membrane reactors for syngas and hydrogen production, while Part Two examines membrane reactors for other energy applications, including biodiesel and bioethanol production. The final section of the book reviews the use of membrane reactors in basic chemical production, including discussions of the use of MRs in ammonia production and the dehydrogenation of alkanes to alkenes.

This book describes the synthesis, properties and applications of PLA through fourteen original chapters that will guide the reader through a fascinating journey into the world of PLA, providing interesting insights for those who intend to use this polymer for innovative applications, or simply those who want learn more about this very important biodegradable and bio-based plastic. PLA biodegradability introduces this polymer in a world of eco-friendly and human-friendly applications in several technological fields. In short, this book will appeal to all the readers who not only want to have a reference book of consolidated notions on PLA, but also, and especially, to those who want to discover new potentials and new application fields of this unique biodegradable polymer.

This book describes the synthesis, properties and applications of PLA through fourteen original chapters that will guide the reader through a fascinating journey into the world of PLA, providing interesting insights for those who intend to use this polymer for innovative applications, or simply those who want learn more about this very important biodegradable and bio-based plastic. PLA biodegradability introduces this polymer in a world of eco-friendly and human-friendly applications in several technological fields. In short, this book will appeal to all the readers who not only want to have a reference book of consolidated notions on PLA, but also, and especially, to those who want to discover new potentials and new application fields of this unique biodegradable polymer.