Koros Awarded Innovation in Membrane Science and Technology Prize

AIChE Member William J. Koros, a professor and chair of the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, recently received the 2008 Alan S. Michaels Award for Innovation in Membrane Science and Technology. The Michaels Award, sponsored by the North American Membrane Society (NAMS), recognizes outstanding innovations and exceptional lifetime contributions to membrane science and technology. The award is given once every three years and is named after Dr. Alan Michaels, whose contributions were instrumental in making membrane processes a broadly applicable and practical technology platform.

Koros was honored for his seminal research in polymer materials for advanced, membrane-based separations. His work has had a deep impact on both fundamental and applied concepts related to polymermembrane-based gas separation for energy-efficient air separation, hydrogen purification, and natural gas separation. He helped develop the theoretical framework forming the basis of the modern understanding of small-molecule transport in polymers. His contributions to materials science design concepts are widely used in industry for making gas separation membranes. He has also conducted pioneering studies of hybrid organic/inorganic materials (mixed matrix membranes) for gas-separation applications.

The Michaels Award also recognized Koros for his contributions to education. He has mentored more than 100 PhD, MS and postdoctoral students, many of whom have also made important contributions to the field of membrane science and technology.

A Fellow of AIChE, Koros has served on AIChE's Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council (CTOC), as chair of the Separations Division and as chair of the Publications Committee. He is a recipient of the Separations Division's Clarence Gerhold Award, and the Institute's Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology.

Copyright American Institute of Chemical Engineers Apr 2008
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