<p><strong>It is our great pleasure to invite you to attend and contribute to the 19th International Symposium on Hyphenated Techniques in Chromatograph and Separation Technology (HTC-19), which will take place from May 26 to 29 in Leuven, Belgium.</strong></p><p>The HTC symposium series started in 1990 and is the ideal meeting place for scientists and practitioners from academia and industry and vendors to discuss and gather new insights in emerging technologies, instrumentation, workflows, and applications. Organized under the auspices of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Ghent University (UGhent), and the Separation Science Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), HTC-19 is expected to gather over 300 participants.</p><h3><strong>Registration</strong></h3><blockquote><p class="cke-user_style-important"><strong>👉</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kuleuven.be/register/en/htc-19-19th-international-symposium-on-hyphenated-techniques-in-chromatography-and-separation-technology/step1"><strong>Register HERE</strong></a></p></blockquote><h4><strong>Registration Fee</strong></h4><h5><strong>Regular (From 14 March 2026)</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Industry / Academic:</strong> € 775</li><li><strong>Student:</strong> € 425</li></ul><h5><strong>Conference dinner / Tasting Event</strong></h5><ul><li>Participants: € 95 / € 50</li><li>Accompanying persons: € 110 / € 60</li></ul><h5><strong>Short courses (CE, GC and GCxGC, NANOLC-MS, 2D-LC)</strong></h5><ul><li>Academic: € 500</li><li>Industry: € 500</li><li>Students: € 350</li></ul><h5><strong>Short course (AI MD Development)</strong></h5><ul><li>Academic: € 250</li><li>Industry: € 250</li><li>Students: € 125</li></ul><h3><strong>Programme</strong></h3><h4><strong>Plenary Spekares</strong></h4><h5><strong>Under pressure: bringing supercritical fluids to multi-dimensional analysis systems</strong></h5><ul><li>Caroline West, Université d’Orléans, France<ul><li>Caroline West is a full professor in analytical chemistry at the University of Orleans, France, where she is teaching separation science. Her main scientific interests lie in fundamentals of chromatographic selectivity, both in the achiral and chiral modes, in SFC and LC. She is also applying these methods, with or without hyphenation to extraction methods and/or MS, to samples of pharmaceutical interest and natural products. She has authored about 120 papers in international peer‐reviewed journals and has presented about 120 lectures in conferences. In 2015, she received the “LC‐GC Emerging Leader in Chromatography” award. She was ranked several times among the most influential people in analytical chemistry by “The Analytical Scientist” magazine (“Top 40 under 40” 2014 &amp; 2018, “The Power List” 2019, 2020 &amp; 2021), received the Jubilee medal from the Chromatographic Society (2021) and JFK Huber Lecture award from the Austrian Society of Analytical Sciences (2025). She is also an advisory board member for several journals in separation science.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Open Science Cheminformatics Resources Supporting Hyphenated Non-target Screening Efforts</strong></h5><ul><li>Emma Schymanski, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg<ul><li>Professor Emma Schymanski is head of the Environmental Cheminformatics (ECI) group, FNR ATTRACT Fellow and special advisor to the rector for Open Science and Research Data Management. She has a double degree in Chemistry/Environmental Engineering from UWA, Perth, completed her PhD at UFZ Leipzig and postdoc at Eawag, Switzerland. Her research combines cheminformatics and computational (high resolution) mass spectrometry approaches to elucidate the unknowns in complex samples, primarily with non-target screening, and relate these to environmental causes of disease. She is involved in many collaborative efforts, with &gt;16,000 citations, &gt;100 publications and a book. An advocate for FAIR and open science, she is involved in several European and worldwide activities to improve the exchange of data, information and ideas between scientists, including the NORMAN Suspect List Exchange, MassBank, MetFrag, PubChemLite for Exposomics, the PubChem PFAS Tree, patRoon, ShinyTPs and the Chemical Stripes.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>The challenges of scale for meaningful environmental research</strong></h5><ul><li>Leon Barron, Imperial College London, United Kingdom<ul><li>Professor Leon Barron leads the Emerging Chemical Contaminants group at Imperial College London. His research aims to further our understanding of complex chemical exposures on environmental and public health. He gained his PhD in 2005 from Dublin City University and in 2009 moved to King’s College London as an academic in Forensic Science until 2020. He moved to Imperial in 2020 and was recently promoted to full professor of Analytical and Environmental Sciences in 2025. He has pioneered several (bio)analytical methodologies especially the development and integration novel passive sampling tools, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods and predictive machine learning for contaminant identification, monitoring and risk assessment. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is the current Chair of its Separation Science Interest Group. His work has been recognised particularly for its large-scale applicability including in national and international monitoring campaigns in partnership with academia, government, industry and the general public.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Hyphenated methods in chromatography: Innovations realised and challenges remaining</strong></h5><ul><li>Hans-Gerd Janssen, Unilever, The Netherlands<ul><li>Prof. Hans-Gerd Janssen obtained his MSc and PhD degree in analytical chemistry from the Eindhoven University of Technology. After having worked at this university for another 8 years as an assistant/associate professor, he moved to Unilever R&amp;D in 1999 and currently holds the position of science leader Food Compositional Analysis. From 2004 to 2019 he was a part-time professor at the University of Amsterdam at the chair ‘(bio-)macromolecular separations’. In 2019 he moved to Wageningen University where he now holds a part-time professor position in ‘recognition-based analytical chemistry’. Prof. Janssen has published more than 230 papers including six patents and seven book chapters. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of several scientific journals. He has been, or is, a member of the board of the Analytical Chemistry division of the Dutch Chemical Society and of the working group Separation Methods. He also is a member of the scientific or organizing committee of several symposia. Prof. Janssen was awarded the 2020 GC×GC scientific achievement award in recognition of his contribution to the field. In 2023 he was awarded the H.J. Dutton Award from the American Oil Chemist’s Society. In his research he focuses on the development of chromatographic methods and theories for the reliable, rapid and automated analysis of complex samples. Much of his work was on edible oils and fats, but also other food related samples including packaging materials and food processing got his attention. More recently his work focusses on food flavour analysis and understanding sensory perception from detailed chemical analysis.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Delicious Science: A Chemical Journey Through the Kitchen</strong></h5><ul><li>Peter Van Broeck, WM-Lightning B.V., Belgium<ul><li>Dr. Peter Van Broeck has more than 30 years of experience in analytical chemistry, process control, and technological innovation within the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Since 2023, he has been Managing Director of WM-Lightning B.V., a consultancy firm specialized in innovation, interim management, and strategic support. He spent a significant part of his career at Johnson &amp; Johnson, where he held leadership roles in Analytical Development and Chemical Process Control. As Scientific Director, he was end-to-end responsible for the analytical strategy within continuous manufacturing, the implementation of Process Analytical Technology (PAT), and the introduction of new analytical technologies. He developed extensive international academic and industry networks and represented the organization in various innovation programs and conferences. Earlier, Dr. Van Broeck led the Chemical Process Control Lab, where he drove the global adoption of PAT. At Amylum NV and BetzDearborn Inc., he focused on analytical method development, laboratory setup, and the introduction of advanced techniques such as HT-GPC, NIR and hyphenated GC and HPLC techniques. He also served as a Guest Professor at Hasselt University, teaching Industrial Chemistry to Business Engineering students. Beyond his scientific career, Dr. Van Broeck has a long-standing passion for wine, gastronomy, and the chemistry of flavor. Building on early academic and R&amp;D experience in food analytics, he actively explores the intersection of taste, chemistry, and sensory experience, and is frequently invited as a speaker on topics such as food pairing and the science of brewing and winemaking.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Shaken, not stirred – James Bond in the spotlight of physics</strong></h5><ul><li>Metin Tolan, Faculty of Physics, TU Dortmund University, Germany<ul><li><p>Main areas of research: Investigation of the interfacial behavior of so-called “soft matter” (polymers, liquids, biomaterials), phase diagrams and stability of proteins, use of synchrotron radiation for materials research in general and further development of investigation methods, more than 200 publications in refereed journals</p><p>Professional career: Since April 2025: Professor of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, TU Dortmund University 2021–2025: President of Georg August University of Göttingen (on leave from TU Dortmund University) 2008–2020: Vice Rector for Research (3 years), for Studies (5 years), for Finance (4 years) at TU Dortmund University, permanent representative of the Rector 2003: Admitted as a full member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts Since 2001: full professorship (C4) for experimental physics at TU Dortmund University. Chair of Experimental Physics I 1998 – 2001 Habilitation in experimental physics. Lecturer at Christian Albrechts University of Kiel 1994 – 1998: Research stays in the USA at Brookhaven National Laboratory (1994), Exxon Research Laboratories (1994), State University of New York at Stony Brook (1995 and 1998) and Argonne National Laboratory (1996 and 1997) 1990–1993: Research assistant, Institute for Experimental Physics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel. Doctorate in physics (dissertation: “X-ray scattering on laterally structured surfaces – experiment and theory”) 1984–1989: Studied physics with a minor in mathematics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel. Diploma in mathematical physics<br>Awards: 2024 Culture Prize of the Eduard Rhein Foundation 2018 Awarded the Badge of Honor of the German Physical Society 2017 Robert Wichard Pohl Prize of the German Physical Society for outstanding contributions to physics 2013 Communicator Prize of the DFG and the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft 2010 Awarded the Silver Badge of Honor for special services to the DESY Research Center in Hamburg 2010 Professor of the Year elected by magazine “UNICUM Beruf” in the field of natural sciences and medicine</p><p>Popular Books: 5 books published, among them “Shaken, not stirred! – James Bond in the Spotlight of Physics” Springer (2020) (in German: “Geschüttelt, nicht gerührt! – James Bond im Visier der Physik”, Piper 2008)</p></li></ul></li></ul>

Plenary speakers at the 19th International Symposium on Hyphenated Techniques in Chromatography and Separation Technology (HTC-19)

<p><span><strong>Sabina Cerulová originally planned to study veterinary medicine, but coincidence, the covid‑19 pandemic, and her bachelor’s project led her to research at RECETOX. Today, as a PhD student, she studies a rare genetic mutation responsible for severe symptoms in a specific patient, and she works with animal models, microbiome, and advanced imaging methods. What motivates her in science is the variety of work, the opportunity to constantly learn, and the hope that her work will one day help real people.&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_MUNI_Ph_D_studentka_Sabina_Cerulova_Veda_da_strasne_moc_ale_strasne_moc_si_taky_vezme_Musi_vas_to_bavit_2_1ad2382856.jpeg" alt="RECETOX-MUNI: PhD student Sabina Cerulová: Science gives you so much, but it also takes a lot — you really must enjoy it" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_MUNI_Ph_D_studentka_Sabina_Cerulova_Veda_da_strasne_moc_ale_strasne_moc_si_taky_vezme_Musi_vas_to_bavit_2_1ad2382856.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="738" height="984"></p><h5><strong>How&nbsp;did&nbsp;you&nbsp;get&nbsp;into&nbsp;studying&nbsp;biochemistry&nbsp;and&nbsp;later&nbsp;into&nbsp;research&nbsp;at&nbsp;RECETOX?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>I went to grammar school and for a long time I had no idea what exactly I wanted to do. It wasn’t until my final year that I realized I was drawn to veterinary medicine. But high school was wild. I had good grades, but I didn’t study much, and I thought the entrance exams would be similar. I was very wrong.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>I applied to veterinary schools&nbsp;and&nbsp;biochemistry at the Faculty of Science, where I was luckily accepted, so I enrolled. Originally, I planned to transfer to veterinary medicine the next year, but then covid came, and admissions were based on high school grades, usually only straight A’s, so I&nbsp;didn’t&nbsp;get in.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>In my second year, I started working on my bachelor’s thesis, and something just clicked. I got better at it, I understood more, my grades improved, and I decided to finish my bachelor’s degree. And then I was offered an amazing project.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Before&nbsp;we&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;that&nbsp;project,&nbsp;what&nbsp;did&nbsp;you&nbsp;work&nbsp;on in&nbsp;your&nbsp;bachelor’s&nbsp;thesis?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>My bachelor’s thesis focused on analyzing the microbiome in the root canal of teeth in patients with apical periodontitis. I worked on it here at RECETOX under Associate<strong> Professor Petra Bořilová Linhartová</strong>. It was incredibly interesting — completely new work, new analyses. Because of covid, we had fewer lab classes, but I still really enjoyed it.&nbsp;After my bachelor’s, I received an offer from my supervisor, who knew I was interested in animals and veterinary science. For my thesis, she offered me the project we’ve already mentioned, which we work on in collaboration with the<strong> Institute of Histology and Embryology</strong>, in <strong>Associate Professor Křivánek’s group</strong>. They work with animal models, mainly mice, and study the effect of a genetic mutation found in a specific patient.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Why were you so drawn to animals? Have you ever&nbsp;considered&nbsp;studying medicine?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>I’ve been close to animals since I was little. I used to ride horses, and at home we had hamsters, chinchillas, cats, and dogs. Everyone asked me why I didn’t go into medicine, but I guess I just like animals more than people (laughs). I liked the idea of having my own veterinary practice and being close to them.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Biochemistry was more of a backup plan; I didn’t really know what I was getting into. And I don’t regret it. Veterinary medicine will probably always be a dream, but I’m glad I stayed here.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Could you describe the project in more detail? If I understand correctly, you’re continuing the same topic in your dissertation.&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Yes, that's right. Our research group collaborates with a hospital, which provided us with results from a patient who had numerous pathological findings since childhood: bone lesions, shortened tooth roots, enamel hypomineralization, joint pain, high phosphate levels in the blood.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Whole‑exome sequencing was performed, and&nbsp;a very rare&nbsp;mutation was&nbsp;identified&nbsp;in the gene that I study. In collaboration with other institutions, we created a mouse with the same&nbsp;point of&nbsp;mutation. It underwent phenotyping screening, and its symptoms were&nbsp;very similar&nbsp;to the patient’s. That was&nbsp;a huge success. Now&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;trying to further characterize the model and, in the future, test treatment options on it — diets, DNA modification, anything that could help not only her but also other patients with similar symptoms.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Do you work only with that one mutation, or with other models as well?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Primarily, I focus on one specific point of mutation, but we also worked with knockout mice where the gene is completely switched off. The results were quite variable, so we now study both lines. Thanks to our collaborations, we also have access to data from other mouse models with mutations in genes closely associated with hyperphosphatemia, which helps us put our results into a broader context.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Are&nbsp;you&nbsp;planning&nbsp;to study&nbsp;additional&nbsp;patients&nbsp;as&nbsp;well?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Yes. We want to publish a paper on additional patients, especially those on dialysis, and examine their phosphate levels and potential genetic modifications. Phosphate is not routinely tested, so similar disorders may be hidden. We’d like to find out whether their problems could be related to this gene and thus make our project applicable to a larger group of patients.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Do&nbsp;you&nbsp;use&nbsp;imaging&nbsp;methods?&nbsp;With&nbsp;what&nbsp;goal?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Yes. We wanted something non‑invasive, because microCT requires euthanizing the mice. In collaboration with the core facility, we’re testing MRI to observe manifestations of the mutation over time — in bones, soft tissues, kidneys. We obtained a grant for this, currently for one year. We need to observe progression, and then we can apply for further funding.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What&nbsp;surprised&nbsp;you&nbsp;most&nbsp;about&nbsp;working&nbsp;with&nbsp;animal&nbsp;models?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>The time. Everything takes so long. Mice are living organisms, sometimes they’re born and then eat each other. It’s unpredictable. And we got our first shock when we were expecting offspring and nothing happened. Only later we found out that males with this mutation are infertile. As an animal lover, I cried over the first mouse I lost. But then you remind yourself that you're doing this to help patients. And you look for ways to use as few mice as possible.&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_MUNI_Ph_D_studentka_Sabina_Cerulova_Veda_da_strasne_moc_ale_strasne_moc_si_taky_vezme_Musi_vas_to_bavit_1_787855e117.jpeg" alt="RECETOX-MUNI: PhD student Sabina Cerulová: Science gives you so much, but it also takes a lot — you really must enjoy it" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_MUNI_Ph_D_studentka_Sabina_Cerulova_Veda_da_strasne_moc_ale_strasne_moc_si_taky_vezme_Musi_vas_to_bavit_1_787855e117.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="450" height="600"></p><h5><strong>Why don’t you&nbsp;use&nbsp;vitro approaches instead, such as testing outside a living organism?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Because of speed and complexity. Mice reproduce quickly, live for about two years, and share 99% of their genes with humans. Using cells would be much slower, and we wouldn’t see the full picture of how the organism behaves.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What&nbsp;do&nbsp;you&nbsp;enjoy&nbsp;most&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;work?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>The variety. That I can tailor my day to what I have the capacity for. Sometimes I prepare samples for sequencing, sometimes I do analyses, sometimes I teach. I enjoy constantly learning and the diversity of tasks.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;hardest&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;PhD&nbsp;studies&nbsp;for&nbsp;you?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Time management.&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;not good at it, and&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;very grateful&nbsp;to my supervisor, who helps me stay on track.&nbsp;And&nbsp;also,&nbsp;not losing myself in the work — I need to have a personal life.&nbsp;I do this because I enjoy it, but I&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;want to burn out.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>How&nbsp;do&nbsp;you&nbsp;view&nbsp;working&nbsp;with&nbsp;students?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>I enjoy it, but&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;demanding. Sometimes students mistake me for one of them (laughs), because I look young. And&nbsp;they’re&nbsp;very motivated — sometimes I feel like they know more than I do. But it has taught me a lot about patience and confidence. I really&nbsp;enjoy taking&nbsp;lectures.&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_MUNI_Ph_D_studentka_Sabina_Cerulova_Veda_da_strasne_moc_ale_strasne_moc_si_taky_vezme_Musi_vas_to_bavit_3_f7b11b8efa.jpeg" alt="RECETOX-MUNI: PhD student Sabina Cerulová: Science gives you so much, but it also takes a lot — you really must enjoy it" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_MUNI_Ph_D_studentka_Sabina_Cerulova_Veda_da_strasne_moc_ale_strasne_moc_si_taky_vezme_Musi_vas_to_bavit_3_f7b11b8efa.jpeg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="450" height="450"></p><h5><strong>What&nbsp;are&nbsp;you&nbsp;most proud&nbsp;of&nbsp;in&nbsp;your&nbsp;scientific&nbsp;journey&nbsp;so far?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>My progress. I never imagined myself in academia. Looking back, I’m grateful to the consultants on my bachelor’s thesis for their patience. Changing my approach and discovering that I enjoy it has moved me forward the most. I’m not focused on one specific result but on personal growth.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What&nbsp;motivates&nbsp;you&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;going?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>The idea that one day it will work out. I try to stay positive, even though some days are&nbsp;tough&nbsp;and nothing goes according to plan.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Do&nbsp;you&nbsp;also&nbsp;engage&nbsp;in science&nbsp;outreach?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>Yes. We do a lot, especially for children. I recently visited my hometown, Karviná. We have third graders, ninth graders… It’s great; the kids are enthusiastic. Outreaching is extremely important — showing that science is fun and needed everywhere.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>And what&nbsp;is next&nbsp;after the PhD?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>I don’t know. Maybe another PhD (laughs). But I certainly want to stay in science.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What&nbsp;advice&nbsp;would&nbsp;you&nbsp;give&nbsp;to&nbsp;young&nbsp;people&nbsp;considering&nbsp;a&nbsp;scientific&nbsp;career?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span>You&nbsp;must&nbsp;enjoy it. Science gives you so much, but it takes a lot as well. You&nbsp;must&nbsp;be passionate about it and find a topic&nbsp;that’s&nbsp;truly yours.&nbsp;</span></p>

PhD student Sabina Cerulová: Science gives you so much, but it also takes a lot — you really must enjoy it

<p><strong>🎤Dr. Steven Weinman </strong>(Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Alabama)</p><p><strong>Steven shares his journey from chemical engineering student to membrane researcher, and explains how membranes are used not only for water purification, but also for sample preparation, pre-treatment, and concentration in analytical workflows. The conversation dives deep into PFAS removal, nanofiltration vs. reverse osmosis, and how chromatography and mass spectrometry are essential for validating membrane performance.</strong></p><h4><strong>Key topics discussed include:</strong></h4><ul><li>How membranes function as separation and concentration tools</li><li>Nanofiltration vs. reverse osmosis for salts and PFAS</li><li>The role of chromatography (LC-MS, GC-MS, ion chromatography) in verifying contaminant removal</li><li>Challenges in scaling academic separation technologies to industry</li><li>Sustainability in membrane manufacturing and PFAS-related regulations</li><li>Training students to balance fundamental science with real-world applications</li></ul><p>Whether you work in environmental analysis, chromatography, mass spectrometry, water quality, or separation science, this episode provides valuable insight into how different separation technologies complement each other—and where the field is heading next.</p><h3><strong>Video Transcription</strong></h3><h4><strong>Introduction</strong></h4><p>Membrane-based separations have become a central part of modern water treatment and resource recovery, offering energy-efficient routes for purification, concentration, and selective contaminant removal. In this discussion, Stephen reflects on his path into chemical engineering and membrane science, then explores how membrane technologies fit within broader separation science, how selectivity is designed into membrane systems, and why translation from academic research to industrial deployment remains challenging.</p><p>His perspective spans both fundamental membrane science and practical engineering, with particular emphasis on water treatment, contaminant removal, sustainable membrane manufacturing, and the realities of research funding and scale-up.</p><h4><strong>From Chemical Engineering to Membrane Research</strong></h4><p>Stephen’s route into membrane science began indirectly. Although his early interests were far removed from chemical engineering, he found himself drawn to chemistry and mathematics during high school, which led him to pursue chemical engineering at the University of Kentucky. His first direct exposure to research came through a cooperative placement with a university-affiliated research institute, where he worked on ceramic membrane systems for coal-fired power plant applications.</p><p>That experience introduced him to bench-scale research, scientific literature, and technical presentation, while also clarifying that research was more appealing to him than traditional industrial internships. He subsequently joined the laboratory of a membrane scientist at the University of Kentucky, where he began working on polymeric membranes for water treatment. This set the direction for graduate study, ultimately leading him to Clemson University, where he pursued PhD research on antifouling membranes using surface chemistry and patterning approaches.</p><p>Although his original career plan had been to join a membrane company after graduate school, that trajectory changed late in his doctoral training. Encouragement from colleagues and family led him to consider academia, where he could define his own research questions and continue mentoring students. He joined the University of Alabama immediately after graduation and has since built a research program focused on water treatment problems using membranes, solvents, and polymer-based sorbents.</p><h4><strong>Membrane Separation in the Broader Context of Analytical and Separation Science</strong></h4><p>Stephen frames membranes as one tool within a broader separation science landscape. Their role depends entirely on the feed composition, the desired product stream, and the ultimate process objective. In some cases, membranes are ideal for concentrating target species or dewatering mixtures. In others, they serve as pretreatment tools, removing particulates, unwanted macromolecules, or selected contaminants before downstream analytical or processing steps.</p><p>This logic parallels broader analytical workflows, including chromatographic and spectrometric methods, where sample preparation and matrix simplification are often critical. Even very routine laboratory operations, such as syringe filtration, rely on membrane principles. In that sense, membranes are already embedded in many analytical workflows, even when they are not the primary focus.</p><p>He also points out that certain membrane-based systems can begin to overlap conceptually with chromatographic approaches, particularly in applications such as protein and biologics purification, where membrane adsorbers and membrane chromatography can provide high-throughput alternatives to conventional packed columns.</p><h4><strong>Membrane Selectivity: Matching the Separation to the Problem</strong></h4><p>A recurring theme in the discussion is that membrane selection is application-specific. The right membrane depends on what must be retained, what must pass through, and whether the goal is purification, concentration, or fractionation.</p><p>Stephen distinguishes between several broad classes of membranes. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration operate largely through size exclusion, although charge effects may still contribute. These are useful when target species differ sufficiently in size. At the more selective end, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis are used for salts, small molecules, and persistent contaminants. Nanofiltration is often well suited for rejecting divalent ions while allowing more monovalent ions to pass, whereas reverse osmosis is required when more complete salt rejection is necessary.</p><p>For contaminants such as PFAS, nanofiltration can reject a substantial fraction of compounds, although shorter-chain and smaller species are more difficult. Reverse osmosis offers broader rejection, but also with higher pressure requirements. This highlights a central engineering tradeoff: tighter selectivity generally requires higher energy input.</p><p>He emphasizes that membrane systems always produce at least two streams: a permeate stream and a retentate or concentrate stream. Designing the separation therefore requires consideration not only of product quality but also of what happens to the reject stream. In many cases this becomes a waste stream; in others, it may represent a concentrated resource that requires additional processing or recovery.</p><h4><strong>Advances in Membrane Materials and System Performance</strong></h4><p>Over the course of more than a decade in membrane science, Stephen has seen important improvements in commercial membrane technology, particularly in the area of lower-pressure reverse osmosis. Traditionally, reverse osmosis has required higher operating pressures than nanofiltration. Recent developments have reduced that burden, allowing similar water productivity at lower pressure or smaller membrane area for a given throughput.</p><p>These advances matter because they reduce either energy demand or plant footprint, both of which are significant in industrial and municipal treatment systems. While pressure recovery devices have also improved overall system efficiency, he distinguishes those engineering gains from the membrane materials themselves.</p><p>On the research side, he highlights the emergence of membrane adsorbers and related hybrid technologies that can support faster, higher-throughput separations than conventional column-based workflows. These have gained particular traction in the purification of proteins and biologics, although he suggests that similar concepts may become increasingly relevant in water treatment and selective ion or molecule recovery.</p><h4><strong>Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry as Tools for Membrane Research</strong></h4><p>Although many membrane processes target relatively simple separations such as desalination, more advanced membrane studies increasingly rely on analytical chemistry for validation and mechanistic insight. Stephen describes how chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods are essential when the separation targets are more complex than salts.</p><p>His group uses ion chromatography for specific ionic analytes, as well as GC-MS and electrospray-based methods for organic compounds and degradation products. One recent example involved a biocatalytic membrane designed to degrade phthalates, where GC-MS was used to detect both the parent phthalate and the resulting breakdown products. In such cases, analytical methods are not merely confirmatory; they are central to demonstrating that the membrane or membrane-coupled system is functioning as intended.</p><p>This reinforces the idea that membrane science and analytical chemistry are closely linked in emerging applications, especially where contaminant transformation, trace-level detection, or selective removal must be verified rigorously.</p><h4><strong>The Difficulty of Scale-Up</strong></h4><p>One of the most substantial barriers in membrane research is translation from academic bench-scale work to industrial or municipal scale. Stephen identifies two major constraints: time and cost.</p><p>Academic demonstrations often rely on reaction steps, modification procedures, or fabrication methods that work well on the laboratory scale but are far too slow for industrial practice. A protocol that takes hours or days in a research setting is rarely attractive to a manufacturer seeking cycle times measured in seconds or minutes. Likewise, materials that seem acceptable at gram scale may be prohibitively expensive at production scale, although the reverse may also be true if bulk pricing is favorable.</p><p>The more fundamental challenge is that academic research is not usually funded to perform pilot-scale development. The mission is often centered on fundamental science and student training, not industrial process engineering. Moving from proof-of-concept to deployable technology requires time, equipment, space, and funding that many university laboratories simply do not have.</p><p>For this reason, Stephen sees academia’s main role as laying the conceptual and technical groundwork. If a technology shows promise, the ideal outcome is that an industrial partner, start-up, or other translational pathway takes it further. In some cases, research can be designed from the start with scalability in mind. He cites current work on reverse osmosis membrane additives as an example, where the goal is not to reinvent membrane fabrication but to introduce a change that could plausibly fit existing manufacturing workflows.</p><h4><strong>Sustainability and Greener Membrane Science</strong></h4><p>Membrane processes themselves are often relatively energy efficient compared with thermal separations, but Stephen notes that membrane manufacturing still has significant room for improvement. Conventional membrane fabrication often relies on hazardous, petroleum-derived solvents, and one area of active research is the substitution of greener or bio-based alternatives.</p><p>Another direction is the use of waste plastics as feedstock for membrane fabrication. The rationale is pragmatic: if such plastics are already present in the environment, converting them into membranes may extend their useful lifetime and partially offset their environmental burden. More biodegradable or less petroleum-dependent polymers are also attractive, but they must still meet cost and performance requirements.</p><p>He also discusses an important regulatory issue involving polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), one of the most widely used membrane polymers. Debate over whether it should be treated as a PFAS-related material could have major implications for membrane manufacturing and use. From his perspective, classifying PVDF in that way would create significant disruption, especially given its central role in current membrane systems.</p><h4><strong>Funding, Student Training, and the Academic Mission</strong></h4><p>The final part of the discussion turns to the academic research environment itself. Stephen emphasizes that the most important responsibility of his laboratory is not simply generating new membrane concepts, but training students and ensuring that they can complete their degrees in a supportive research environment.</p><p>Funding uncertainty directly affects that mission. Reduced proposal success rates make it harder to maintain the number of graduate students needed for a healthy research group. This has implications beyond immediate staffing. Laboratories function best when experienced students train newer members, creating continuity in methods, culture, and technical knowledge. If groups shrink too far, that continuity is lost.</p><p>He views graduate research as both education and work experience. Students are not only learning theory; they are learning how to think as researchers, solve open-ended problems, and contribute to technologies that may eventually benefit industry. From that perspective, sustaining student support is one of the most important parts of maintaining a strong academic research ecosystem.</p><h4><strong>Conclusion</strong></h4><p>Stephen presents membrane science as a field that sits at the intersection of chemical engineering, separation science, and analytical chemistry. Membranes are already deeply integrated into both industrial treatment and laboratory workflows, but their future depends on continued progress in selectivity, sustainability, and manufacturability.</p><p>At the same time, the discussion makes clear that technical performance alone is not enough. For membrane technologies to move from the laboratory to practice, they must be scalable, economically realistic, and supported by strong analytical validation. Academic laboratories can provide the foundational science and early demonstrations, but broader adoption depends on partnerships, funding, and translational effort.</p><p>Perhaps most importantly, the conversation highlights that advances in membrane science are inseparable from the students and researchers who carry them forward. In that sense, the future of separations depends not only on materials and methods, but also on sustaining the people who develop them.</p><blockquote><p><strong>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><h4><strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</strong></h4><p>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!</p><p>You can find <strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast </strong>in podcast apps:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL"><strong>Spotify</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185"><strong>Apple podcast</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography"><strong>podscan</strong></a></li></ul><p>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos"><strong>YouTube channel</strong></a></p></blockquote>

Selective Separations: What Membrane Science Can Teach Chromatographers

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