Membrane processes have wide industrial ap­ This handbook reviews the published litera­ plications covering many existing and emerging ture, presents an in-depth description of com­ uses in the chemical, petrochemical, petroleum, mercialized membrane processes, and gives a state-of-the-art review of new membrane pro­ environmental, water treatment, pharmaceutic­ al, medical, food, dairy, beverage, paper, tex­ cess concepts under development. It is intended tile, and electronic industries. The existing ap­ to be a single source of underlying principles, membranes, membrane modules, process de­ plications include: (1) dialysis for the purifica­ tion of human blood (the artificial kidney), (2) sign, applications, and cost estimates. It is also electrodialysis for the desalination of brackish a first attempt to bridge the gap between the water to produce potable water, (3) reverse theory and practice. osmosis for the desalination of seawater, (4) There are several groups which may benefit ultrafiltration for the concentration of large pro­ from this handbook. It can be used as educa­ tein molecules from cheese, casein whey, and tional material for industrial personnel engaged milk, and (5) microfiltration for the sterilization in membrane separations. For scientists and of pharmaceutical and medical products, beer, engineers active in research and development in wine, and soft drinks. Since membrane pro­ synthetic membranes, it will serve as a single cesses generally have low capital investment, as source of reference for the entire field.