Membrane Engineering for Sustainable Solutions

The Yang Group focuses on process intensification strategies for designing low-emission and energy efficient separation systems utilizing smart responsive materials with nano/micro-structured interfaces, reactive kinetics and optimal separation units. The hybridisation of separation technologies (e.g., membrane, extraction, absorption and chromatography) is the key tool to design an Energy-Efficient Separation Systems for Sustainability (2E3S), assisted with experimental research and process system engineering via multi-scale numerical modelling. The aim is to tackle technical challenges in the Water-Environment-Resource Nexus under the Circular Economy Initiatives, with target applications towards mining & energy, bioprocessing and chemical sensing. Combined with experimental development, we use multi-scale modelling to understand the micro-scale molecular transport in separation processes using mathematical tools such as CFD, and macro-scale system integration to optimize process flowsheets using simulation platforms such as Aspen Plus. We are dedicated to both bench-top research related to novel materials, applications or systems and applied research in pilot-scale for resource recovery and environmental applications (recovery of water, volatiles, minerals/metals and proteins, etc).