Promotion and focussing of current research activities of Membrane Technology in Water Treatment in the Mediterranean Region

Objective

The complex dimensions of the Mediterranean freshwater resources, their fragility and their scarcity have been highlighted and have received considerable attention as a primary priority issue politically, technically and scientifically. Membrane technology, with its different applications in water treatment (desalination, potable water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse) has showed to be a powerful tool to abate the water crisis in the Mediterranean region.

During the last five years, this technology has received a lot of attention, resulting in an improvement of membrane materials and techniques, which provide higher fluxes, longer lifetime, partly improving the fouling and high costs. Although there are several national and international membrane research activities, lack of cooperation, very limited know-how exchange and an uncoordinated use of resources leads to parallel and ineffective R#Amp;D activities.

The primary objective of PROMEMBRANE is to support the current research and development activities in membrane technology focussed on water treatment in the Mediterranean area, providing an international stage to local research organisations and universities devoted to the development of membrane technologies in the following areas: municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, surface water purification and brackish and sea water treatment for drinking purpose.

The first stage of the project will cover the identification, mapping and evaluation of the on-going research, in order to propose future research and cooperation strategies. The second stage, will be the diffusion and dissemination of successful experiences and research activities being currently carried out, through the organisation of the two regional contests 'PROMEMBRANE Young Scientist Award' along the frame of the two regional Fairs in Egypt and Syria and an international conference in Tunisia, encouraging and promoting further research activities in membrane technologies.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › water treatment processes › wastewater treatment processes
• engineering and technology › chemical engineering › separation technologies › desalination › reverse osmosis

Programme(s)

• FP6-INCO - Specific measures in support of international cooperation: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• INCO-2002-B1.1 - Comprehensive policy for integrated water planning
• INCO-2002-B1.3 - Advanced water treatment, re-use and energy implications

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-INCO-MPC/SSA-2
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

SSA - Specific Support Action

Coordinator

VEREIN ZUR FOERDERUNG DES TECHNOLOGIETRANSFERS AN DER HOCHSCHULE BREMERHAVEN E.V.

Address

An Der Karlstadt 10
Bremerhaven
Germany

Participants (6)

AL-BAATH UNIVERSITY

Syria

Address

Damscus Str. 16
Homs

BIOAZUL S.L.

Spain

Address

Avda. Juan Lopez Penalver, 21
Campanillas (Malaga)

BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY

Palestine

Address

Ramallah-birzeit-str. 1
Birzeit/west Bank

CENTRE DE BIOTECHNOLOGIE DE SFAX

Tunisia

Address

Route De Soukra Km 4
Sfax

ISTITUTO PER LA TECNOLOGIA DELLE MEMBRANE - CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE

Italy

Address

Piazzale Aldo Moro, 7
Roma

NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER

Egypt

Address

El-behouth Street, Dokki
Cairo