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Our research focuses on membrane processes and colloidal and interfacial phenomena in environmental systems.
The following research themes and objectives define the scope of our current work:

Membrane processes
Improve fundamental understanding of physical and chemical processes governing transport of dissolved and colloidal species to and across membranes.

Multifunctional nanostructured membranes
Combine traditional membrane materials and preparation methods with novel nanomaterials and methods to develop membranes with additional functionalities.

Hybrid treatment systems
Identify and make use of synergies emerging from combining membranes with other unit processes, such as adsorption and oxidation.

Environmentally sustainable nanotechnology
Understand the relationship between physicochemical properties of synthetic nanomaterials and their transport and fate in natural and built environments.

• Shan, W., P. Bacchin, P. Aimar, M. L. Bruening, V. V. Tarabara. Polyelectrolyte multilayer films as backflushable nanofiltration membranes with tunable hydrophilicity and surface charge. J. Membr. Sci. 349 (2010) 268-278
• Alpatova, A. L., Shan, W., Babica, P., Upham B. L., Rogensues, A. R., Masten, S. J., Drown, E., Mohanty, A. K., Alocilja, E. C., V. V. Tarabara. Single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in aqueous media via non-covalent functionalization: Effect of dispersant on the stability, cytotoxicity, and epigenetic toxicity of nanotube suspensions. Water Res. 44 (2010) 505-520
• Kim, J., W. Shan, S.H.R. Davies, M.J. Baumann, S.J. Masten, V.V. Tarabara. Interactions of aqueous NOM with nanoscale TiO2: Implications for ceramic membrane filtration-ozonation hybrid process. Environ. Sci. Technol. 43, 14 (2009) 5488-5494
• Wang, F., V. V. Tarabara. Permeability of fiber-filled porous media: Kozeny-Carman-Ethier modeling approach. Environ. Eng. Sci. 26, 6 (2009) 1149-1155
• Wang, F., V. V. Tarabara. Pore blocking mechanisms during early stages of membrane fouling by colloids. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 328 (2008) 464-469
• Taurozzi, J. S., Arul, H., Bosak, V. Z., Burban, A. F., Voice, T. C., Bruening, M. L., V. V. Tarabara. Effect of filler incorporation route on the properties of polysulfone–silver nanocomposite membranes of different porosities. J. Membr. Sci. 325 (2008) 58-68
• Wang, F., V. V. Tarabara. Coupled effects of colloidal deposition and salt concentration polarization on reverse osmosis membrane performance. J. Membr. Sci. 293 (2007) 111–123