International Seminar: Celebrating 20 years of membrane material research

The seminar will bring together some of the world leading experts on development of membrane materials for gas, for presentations and discussions on today's status and tomorrows potential. The biggest challenges in the world today are the climate change, the energy situation and clean water. Most of the presentations at the seminar will relate to the two first topics and relevant material issues in this context, while we have been lucky to receive confirmation from the grand old man, Prof. E. Drioli, who will give and update on challenges related to clean water and membranes, and point to future solutions. With respect to the climate change issue, our group has very successful developed membrane materials which are unique for CO2 capture, and we are now stepping up to demonstrate one of these materials and technology on small pilot scale. Several of our international collaborators will come, among others from the US, possibly Canada, The Netherlands , Israel, Italy. Representatives from Norwegian and int ernational industry will attend. The oil and gas industry is all the time searching for better and more environmental friendly solutions in the production. Better membrane materials are in focus in research groups all over the world -one of the most famou s is Prof. B. Koros - he will give a presentation, and draw some long lines on demands for new materials. Last but not least; there are special membranes for biogas applications - tailored carbon molecular sieve membranes are very promising. Prof.KV Peine mann,King Abdullah?s Univ.of Science and Techn in SA,is a world famous scientist on development of new materials ? block-copolymers, nanocomposites - also in life sciences, likewise Professor R. Spontak from NCSU with broad competence on polymeric materi als. In addition to specific names mentioned there will be presentations on various types of materials and time for discussions on challenges and future directions where nanocomposites will play an important role