Arkansas 연구원은 국립 과학 재단의 지원으로 과학 공학 기술 센터와 맴브레인 공동 연구를 한다.

과학 공학 기술 센터는 에너지 생산을 위한 물질 개발과 수 재생, 제약 정화와 화학 공정에 주력한다.

화학 공학 전문가인 Ranil Wickramasinghe는 물 재생, 폐수 정화 재 사용에 주력 한다. Ranil Wickramasinghe는 맴브레인 부착물을 보호하는 두 가지 접근법을 개발했다.

Grants totaling US$ 900,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and industry partners has enabled University of Arkansas (UA) engineering researchers to join the Membrane, Science, Engineering & Technology Center, a multi-campus collaboration supported by the NSF. 

The center is focused on developing materials for energy production, water treatment, pharmaceutical purification and chemical processing. Other researchers have come from the University of Colorado and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. 

Ranil Wickramasinghe, professor of chemical engineering at UA, will focus on membrane separations, which include water treatment, wastewater recovery and reuse, and bioseparations for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. The center's expertise in membrane separations will enhance its research mission and emphasis on industry participation. 

Wickramasinghe has developed two approaches to prevent membrane fouling. One method is to induce mixing on the surface of the membrane to keep the particles moving around to prevent them settling to block the membrane's pores. Another approach is to modify the surface of the membrane with chemicals which can repel the contaminants. 

The funding includes US$ 300,000 over five years from the NSF, as part of its nationwide Industry & University Cooperative Research Program, and a total of US$ 600,000 over three years from four industry partners. 

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse / 2014년 4월 1일]