M.I. Baig PhD (Irshad)

Membrane-based separation processes are applied extensively in a number of industries such as desalination plants, pharmaceuticals, petrochemical, food processing, and so on. Polymeric membranes have proved themselves to be a cost-effective and efficient alternative to inorganic and ceramic membranes. 

The existing polymer membranes are prepared using a non-solvent induced phase separation process (NIPS) which requires an environmentally unfriendly solvent such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone. The membranes prepared by this method have an asymmetric structure with a dense layer on top with a microporous support layer that provides mechanical support. Using such reprotoxic solvents is an environmental concern due to their harmful nature and expensive cleaning cycles. Therefore, polymer membranes need to be developed using an alternative approach that relies purely on non-toxic solvents.

During my PhD, I developed membranes based on a novel approach that uses water as a solvent. The aim of my work was to propose a new method of membrane preparation using polyelectrolyte complexation as a viable alternative to NIPS. In my post-doc, I am continuing the research on sustainable membranes.

Publications

Education

2017 - 2021: PhD, Membrane Science and Technology Cluster, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

2014 - 2016: MSc in Advanced Energy and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.

2009 - 2013: BSc in Materials Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Pakistan.

Experience

2021 - present: Postdoctoral researcher, Membrane Science and Technology Cluster, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands