Membrane engineering in the preservation of cultural heritage
Enrico Drioli1
Institute for Membrane Technology ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci CUBO 17/C, 87030 Rende
(CS), Italy
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci CUBO 44/A, 87030
Rende (CS) Italy
1
Membrane engineering in the last years has been doing very important progresses and in some
areas, such as sea water desalination and water reuse, is already a dominant technology.
The possibility of treating gas streams is also becoming of great interest for solving problems such
as the CO2 separation and storage, hydrogen purifications, or as air dehumidification, O2/N2
separation, etc. The preparation of microporous hydrophobic or hydrophilic advanced materials as
special tissue, or thin and ultrathin coatings on various supports is another areas where progresses
have been significant.
The possibility to transfer some of these interesting results to the preservation of cultural heritages
is becoming realistic and appropriate.
Some preliminary data are already confirming these potentialities. New opportunities might be
discussed. It is interesting to realise that some applications might become as standard protocols in
the design of new monuments or arts.