IEX still proves invaluable
to ion exchange community
Separation Science & Technology Group: IEX 2004 Cambridge,
July 2004
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SCI’s IEX (ion exchange) conferences, held every
four years in Cambridge, UK, are unique in Europe, providing
an opportunity for networking and cross-fertilisation
of ideas between industrial and academic workers, both
in research and in applications in all fields of ion
exchange.
Last year’s conference, held in July, coincided
with the 50th anniversary of the first ion exchange
meeting. It was attended by 123 delegates from 23 countries
who witnessed some of the most interesting ion exchange
papers presented in recent years, confirming that ion
exchange is a continuously developing science with a
very relevant place in today’s separation and purification
technologies.
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| Prof Arup Sengupta (left) and Wolfgang
Holl (right) receive their awards from David Naden |
 More
than 50 oral papers were presented in parallel sessions and
some 30 poster papers were displayed in a busy three days.
Topics included high-purity water production, potable water
purification, effluent and waste treatment, fundamentals and
new ion exchange materials in industrial, biotechnology, catalysis,
hydrometallurgy and food and pharmaceuticals applications.
In an era when subjects concerning human wellbeing, environmental
protection and industry efficiency greatly occupy public discussion,
the presentations were highly topical. For example:
- The production of potable water is of increasing importance
in the world and selective removal of minority impurities
without affecting the remaining composition is often required.
Solutions to this problem were offered in papers presented
by J Irving, D Stetter, N Makarova and T Dahlke.
- The emphasis in waste and effluent treatment and environmental
protection was in sustainable development and green ion
exchange technologies which included biosorbtion processes
using natural materials and applications in municipal composting
and mine water treatment. Methods of removal of trace metals
from waters and effluents were also covered. The use of
natural materials for the removal of toxic compounds from
water was the subject of the Plenary Lecture by Prof Michael
Streat.
- Our modern life depends on the production of high-purity
water for power generation and the electronics industry
and ion exchange is the only viable process in most economies
for its production. Contributors included the Electric Power
Research Institute, California, US, and Eskom Enterprises,
South Africa, as well as other distinguished centres of
research and application. Other papers covered existing
and improved processes, on-going research, cost reductions
and mechanisms of resin fouling. Lines of development to
achieve process improvements and cost reductions were identified.
- Fundamental studies in process modelling and new ion
exchange materials enable new processes to be developed
and existing processes to be better understood and optimised.
Papers in this topic area covered a wide range of applications.
The abstracts of the oral papers are published on the SCI
Separation Science
and Technology Group homepage and the complete oral papers
are published in the Conference Proceedings available from
the SCI Publications Department.
The presentation of the IX Awards is another feature of the
IEX conferences. These are given by the Separation Science
and Technology Group to members of the ion exchange community
who have made significant contributions to the science, application
and promotion of ion exchange in any field within the context
of SCI activities. This year there were three awards made,
to Prof Wolfang Holl, Michael Sadler and Prof Arup Sengupta.
Click here to read more.
The presentations were made by David Naden, Chairman of the
Separation Science and Technology Group Committee, in a ceremony
during the conference. More detailed information on the award
and this year’s recipients can be found on the Separation
Science and Technology Group website.
By David Naden
Separation Science and Technology Group Chair
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