Partners - PURATREAT
New Energy Efficient Approach to the Operation of Membrane Bioreactors for Decentralised Wastewater Treatment

The European Membrane Institute Twente (EMI Twente) was founded by the Membrane Technology group of the University of Twente in 1995, with the purpose to offer industry and public organisations a platform where short-term research and development projects in the field of membrane science and technology can be carried out. The duration of these projects, which also include literature studies and marketing assessments, typically varies from a few days up to one or two years.

The EMI Twente makes use of the knowledge and infrastructure of the Chemical Technology Department of the University of Twente and the Membrane Technology Group in particular. The work of the EMI Twente is complementary to the basic research performed by the Membrane Technology group in long-term (4 years) Ph.D. projects. Most of the projects carried out by the EMI Twente are practical in nature and are treated confidentially.The EMI Twente mainly focuses on the European market, but also works together with American and Asian companies. It has special expertise in membrane development (hollow fibers as well as flat sheet membranes) and membrane characterization, as well as in process optimization and other membrane technology related topics, e.g. foams.The most important contribution from EMI to the Puratreat project is in the design and construction of the laboratory set-up, water quality analysis and membrane autopsies.