Overview of Membrane Science and Technology in 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 Tecnico-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.

Automated summary

Membrane research in Portugal is aligned with global concerns for sustainable development, with a focus on natural resources and renewable energy. This article provides a historical perspective on the pioneer work in membrane science and technology by research groups from Instituto Superior Tecnico-Universidade de Lisboa (IST), NOVA School of Science and Technology-Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT NOVA), and Faculdade de Engenharia-Universidade do Porto (FEUP), and presents an overview of recent trends and challenges in membrane processes and materials in Portugal.