15/05/04
Viatcheslav FREGER
CURRICULUM VITAE AND LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
• Personal Details
Name
Viatcheslav Freger
Date and place of birth
1965, Kiev, USSR
Date of immigration
1992
Address and telephone number at work
Institutes for Applied Research, BGU, POB 653,
Beer-Sheva 84105, tel. +972-8-6479316
Address and telephone number at home
Michael Even-Ari 2, Beer-Sheva
tel. +972-8-6492398
• Education
Ph.D. (summa cum laude)
1993-1999, Ben-Gurion University of The Negev, Department of Chemical Engineering, BeerSheva, Israel.
Advisors Prof. E. Korin, Prof. J. Wisniak, Dr. E. Korngold
Title of thesis: “Dehydration of organic liquids by pervaporation using ion-exchange
membranes”.
M.Sc. (with distinction)
1982-1988, Mendeleev Institute of Chemical Technology, Moscow, USSR.
Advisor Dr. E.M. Koltzova
Title of thesis: “Simulation of the drying process in atomizing dryer”.
• Employment History
1993-1994 Researcher. Institutes for Applied Research, BGU, Beer-Sheva.
1999-2000 Research officer (post-doctoral). University of Bath, Chem. Eng. Dept., Bath, UK.
2000
Research Grade C (temporary). Institutes for Applied Research, BGU, Beer-Sheva.
2001
Lecturer. Negev Academic College of Engineering (NACE), Chem. Eng. Dept.
Since 2002 Lecturer (tenure-track). Institutes for Applied Research, BGU, Beer-Sheva.
Since 2003 Lecturer (tenure-track). Institutes for Applied Research + associated faculty
member of Biotechnilogy/Environmental Engineering Department (BGU).
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• Professional Activities
• Educational activities
Courses taught
Principles of Chem. Eng. I (Fluid Dynamics) – undergraduates - NACE
Principles of Chem. Eng. II (Heat Transfer) – undergraduates - NACE
Unit Operation in Chemical Engineering – undergraduates - NACE
Chemical Thermodynamics – undergraduates - NACE
Introduction to Chemical Engineering – undergraduates - NACE
Separations Using Membranes – graduates – Chem. Eng., BGU
Probability and Statistics for Biotechnology – Biotech. Eng., BGU
Separation Processes for Biotechnlogy – Biotech. Eng., BGU
• Awards
1999
The Trombkin prize for excellence in study
• Scientific Publications
Refereed articles in scientific journals
1.
V. Freger, V. N. Vetokhin, On the determination of the rate of foam destruction. Gas
diffusion, Rus. Colloid J., 54 (1992) 162.
2.
V. Freger, V. N. Vetokhin, On the determination of the rate of foam destruction.
Film rupture, Rus. Colloid J., 54 (1992) 167.
3.
V. Freger, E. Korin, J. Wisniak and E. Korngold, Preferential sorption in ionexchange pervaporation membranes: Sorption of water-ethanol mixture by sodium
polyethylene sulfonate, J. Membrane Sci.,128 (1997) 151.
4.
V. Freger, E. Korin, J. Wisniak and E. Korngold, Transport mechanism in ionexchange pervaporation membranes: Dehydration of water-ethanol mixture by
sodium polyethylene sulfonate membranes, J. Membrane Sci.,133 (1997) 255.
5.
V. Freger, E. Korin, J. Wisniak, E. Korngold, M. Ise and K. D. Kreuer, Diffusion of
water and ethanol in ion-exchange membranes: limits of the geometric approach, J.
Membrane Sci.,160 (1999) 213.
6.
V. Freger, E. Korin, J. Wisniak and E. Korngold, Measurements of sorption in
hydrophilic pervaporation, J. Membrane Sci., 164 (2000) 251-256.
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7.
V. Freger, T. C. Arnot, J. A. Howell, Separation of concentrated organic/inorganic
salt mixtures by nanofiltration, J. Membrane Sci, 178 (1-2) (2000) 185-193.
8.
V. Freger, Elastic energy in microscopically phase-separated swollen polymer
networks, Polymer, 43 (2002) 71-76.
9.
V. Freger, J. Gilron, S. Belfer, TFC polyamide membranes modified by grafting of
hydrophilic polymers: a FTIR/AFM/TEM study, J. Membrane Sci., 209 (2002) 283292.
10.
V. Freger, S. Srebnik, Mathematical model of charge and density distributions in
interfacial polymerization of thin films, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 88 (2003) 1162-1169.
11.
V. Freger, Nanoscale heterogeneity of the polyamide membranes obtained by
interfacial polymerization, Langmuir, 19 (2003) 4791-4797.
12.
Y. Oren, V. Freger, C. Linder. Highly ordered heterogeneous ion exchange
membranes, J. Membrane Sci., in press (available online)
13.
V. Freger, Swelling and morphology of the skin layer of polyamide composite
membranes: an AFM study, Environ. Sci & Technol., in press (available online)
Conference proceedings
1.
V. Freger, The formation mechanism and internal structure of polyamide composite
membranes: a new model against direct structural observations, in Proceeding of the
2003 NAMS Meeting, Jackson Hole, WY, May 2003.
2.
Y. Oren, V. Freger, C. Linder, O. Kedem. Highly ordered heterogeneous ion
exchange membranes, MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, December 2002
3.
V. Freger, J. Gilron, S. Belfer, Characterization of the modification layer of TFC
polyamide membranes, in Proceedings of ICOM 2002, Toulouse, July 2002.
4.
V. Freger, A. Pihlajamaki, Y. Shabtai and J. Gilron, Distribution of fixed charge
functional groups in the polyamide composite membranes, in Proceedings of ICOM
2002, Toulouse, July 2002.
5.
V. Freger, O Kedem, Conductivity of ion-exchange spacers for electrodialysis and its
contribution to desalination performance, in Proceedings of the BMBF Status
Seminar, Berlin, October 2000.
6.
V. Freger, T.C. Arnot, J.A. Howell, Flux and rejection in nanofiltration of
concentrated organic/inorganic salt mixtures, in Proceedings of Euromembrane 2000,
Maale Hachamisha, September 2000.
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7.
V. Freger, E. Korin, J. Wisniak and E. Korngold, On sorption effects in hydrophilic
pervaporation, in Proceedings of 35th Annual conference of The Israeli Society of
Chemical Engineering and Tri-National American-Turkish-Israeli Conference,
Technion, Haifa, March 1999.
8.
V. Freger, E. Korin, J. Wisniak and E. Korngold, Pervaporative Transport of Water
in Ion-Exchange Membranes: Pervaporation versus Sorption, in Proceedings of
Euromembrane97, University of Twente, July 1997.
Published scientific reports and technical papers
1.
V. Freger, Y. Oren, C. Linder, Preparation of improved ion-exchange membranes for
desalination and waste treatment , Final Report to Negev Development Authority &
Ministry of Absorption, File BGUN-IAR-7-2004, Beer-Sheva, March 2004.
2.
V. Freger, Electrochemical characterization of ultrathin polyamide films of
composite RO and NF membranes, Final Report to GIF, Grant N 2035-1102.5/2001,
File BGUM-ARI-32-2003, Beer-Sheva, September 2003.
3.
V. Freger, C. Loyns, in Increased Water Recovery From Organic-Laden Process
Streams (OLAPS) by Combining NF and Selected Downstream Processes and
Fowling Prevention, J. Gilron (ed.), Annual Report November 1998-October 1999
submitted to European Commission (File No. BPPR-CT98-8001 (DG12-RSMT),
Beer-Sheva, February 2000.
4.
V. Freger, P. Plucinski, in Increased Water Recovery From Organic-Laden Process
Streams (OLAPS) by Combining NF and Selected Downstream Processes and
Fowling Prevention, J. Gilron (ed.), Annual Report November 1998-October 1999
submitted to European Commission (File No. BPPR-CT98-8001 (DG12-RSMT),
Beer-Sheva, February 2000.
5.
T. Arnot, V. Freger, J Howell, in Increased Water Recovery From Organic-Laden
Process Streams (OLAPS) by Combining NF and Selected Downstream Processes
and Fowling Prevention, J. Gilron (ed.), 3d Semiannual Report November 1999 -May
2000, submitted to European Commission (File No. BPPR-CT98-8001 (DG12RSMT), Beer-Sheva, July 2000.
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• Research Grants
1. GIF (Young Scientists' Program)
Grantee: V. Freger (PI),
Subject: Electrochemical characterization of ultrathin polyamide films of composite RO
and NF membranes
1 year (2002-2003), 36,000 Euros
2. Ministry of Science – Srategic Research Program (Infrastructure)
Grantees: V. Freger(PI) and Y. Oren
Subject: Interaction of salt and organic substanceswith RO and NF membranes:
correlation to retention and fouling.
3 years (2002-2005) 150,000 NIS/year, total 450,000 NIS
3. Negev Development Authoruty+ Ministry of Absorption
Grantees: V. Freger(PI), Y. Oren and C. Linder
Subject: Preparation of improved ion-exchange membranes for desalination and waste
treatment..
1 year (2003-2004) 150,000 NIS
4. Seed-money grant 2002 from BGU, based on ISF proposal (2001)
Grantee: V. Freger
Subject: Formation and structure of ultrathin dense polymeric films obtained by
interfacial polymerization (NIS 20,000).
5. BGU Internal research grant 2003, based on ISF proposal (2002)
Grantee: V. Freger
Subject: Specific aspects of swelling of solid polyelectrolytes in polar liquids (NIS
33,000)
Total Research Grants: ~175,000 US$
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Synopsis of the research
Membrane separations and, in particular, the underlying thermodynamics and transport
mechanisms have been the focus of interest. A study of hydrophilic pervaporation using
ionomeric membranes was carried out in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Institutes
for Applied Research (BGU) and concentrated on the effect of fixed charge content on
partitioning and transport. Based on the equilibrium, permeation and NMR diffusion data, a
number of theoretical relations were proposed and consistency and suitability of various
experimental techniques was analyzed. The work involved collaboration with Max Planck
Institute (Stuttgart, Germany). It was shown that the conclusion from the work may be fairly
general and may apply to a wide range of polymer-solvent systems ( the series of papers in J.
Membrane Sci. in 1997-2000).
Following the above work I continue the experimental and theoretical study on the
thermodynamics of ion-selective membranes of ionomeric and resin types employed in
electrodialysis and fuel cells. The study concentrates on some unique aspects of swelling of these
systems in polar solvents absent in swelling of non-polar systems. These involve non-classic
effects of the matrix elasticity on swelling equilibria and the effect of the mode of sorption on
solvent uptake (a paper in Polymer and a grant submitted to ISF in 2002 and resubmitted in
2003).
In cooperation with O. Kedem, Y. Oren, C Linder and E. Korin (BGU), I have been permanently
involved in theoretical and experimental work related to the development of new ion-conductive
membranes and spacers for electrodialysis and fuel cells. Currently, the work focuses on
development of heterogeneous membranes with largely improved conductivity, selectivity and
mechnical properties using orientation of conducting particles in electric field (patent
application. A paper accepted to J. Membrane Sci. and a grant form the Negev Development
Authority in 2003).
A study started in Bath, UK and completed in Beer-Sheva, dealt with the potential application
of nanofiltration (NF) and micelle-enhanced ultrafiltration combined with bioremediation
for treatment of mixed organic/inorganic industrial effluents. Working with NF polyamide
membranes we observed and quantified strong negative effects of highly saline environments on
the flux and rejection (a paper in J. Membrane Sci. and scientific reports). Disclosure of these
effects ultimately led to still ongoing project on the internal structure and transport properties of
the ultra-thin active layer of modern composite membranes (a paper submitted to Environ. Sci.
Technol.)
A new theory of the process of interfacial polymerization employed in manufacturing of
composite membranes has been developed in collaboration with Dr. S. Srebnik (Technion). It
led to a new picture that reconciles all currently available data and predicts some new features of
the membranes. It pointed out to the strong density and charge non-uniformities intrimsic to the
polyamide composites, in contrast to the accepted views. We also were able to come up with
useful scaling relations connecting the physico-chemical characteristics of the constituents and
the thickeness and time of formation of the skin layer (a paper in
J. Appl .Polym. Sci.) The theoretical and computer simulation work continues to incorporate
more effects and build a complete predictive theory of membrane formation.
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Experimental characterization work on composite membranes includes microscopic and
spectral studies of commercial and state-of-the-art membranes (AFM, TEM, FTIR etc.). It was
possible to corroborate the theoretical results using TEM and AFM observations of the skin
layer. Good agreement was found between the proposed theoretical picture and the results of
observations, which confirmed the recent conclusion about the heterogeneous nature of the skin
and the assumed formation mechanism (a paper in Langmuir). We developed a novel AFM
technique based on isolation of the skin layer and placement on a solid sustrate, which allows
direct measurements of the thickness of the skin, its swelling and swelling response to the liquid
environment. This study is believed to help understand the mechanism of water permeation in
such membranes (paper submitted to Environ. Sci. Technol.). The method also appears to be
highly suitable for analysis of degradation of membranes in aggressive environments, whereby
swelling is used as a measure of the degree of degradation (a paper in preparation with S. Belfer.
M. Perry of BPT company and colleagues from University of Genoa). The newly developed
method has also proven highly useful and informative for characterization of modified
membranes. We were able to reveal fine structural features of the ultrathin modified layer,
which help understand and optimize the modification paths (in collaboration with S. Belfer and
J. Gilron).
An ongoing project (initially funded by GIF Yound Scientists program, extension submitted)focuses on electrochemical measurement of ionic and molecular transport in ultra-thin films
that constitute the active layer of RO and NF membranes. The approach is based on isolation of
the active layer from the support that otherwise severely interferes with the measurements. This
method is believed to be the only suitable direct method for getting reliable transport
characteristic of composite membranes.
Another ongoing project funded by Ministry of Science centers on fundamental aspects of the
passage of organics through polyamide membranes. Using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, permeation
tests and electrochemical methods we analyze the effects of sorption, diffusion and bulk
transport of various classes of organics. The results will have to build a predictive theory of
organic retention in various classes of pressure-driven separation using polymeric membranes.
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• Present Academic Activities
Research in progress
1. Electrochemical characterization of thin-film composite membranes
Other participants: Y. Oren
2. Development of theory of interfacial polymerization for RO/NF membrane formation
Other participants: S. Srebnik (Technion)
3. A theoretical and experimental study of swelling of ionomers and ionic resins in various
environments.
4. Study of transport and sorption of organics in polyamide RO and NF membranes.
Other participants: Y. Oren
5. Characterization of the active layer of original and modified thin-film composite membranes
Other participants: S. Belfer, J. Gilron and C. Linder
6. Development of oriented heterogeneous membranes with anisotropic ionic conductivity for
electrodialysis and fuel cells applications.
Other participants: O. Kedem, Y.Oren, E. Korin and C. Linder
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