Academic Education

M.Sc. (with distinction)
Mendeleev Institute of Chemical Technology, Moscow, USSR, 1988

Ph.D. (summa cum laude)
Ben-Gurion University of The Negev, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel, 1999

Research Interests

Membrane separations, thermodynamics, transport mechanisms, membrane formation and novel membranes are the main interests.

In recent years the focus has been on studying the properties of the ultra-thin polyamide layer of composite membranes for reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. Using modern characterization techniques (TEM, AFM, electrochemical methods, ATR-FTIR, etc.) and theoretical modeling, I have been looking at the intrinsic heterogeneity, charge, permeability, surface characteristics, environmental responses and partitioning of ionic and nonionic permeants into polyamide films.

I also study polyelectrolyte membrane materials, such as Nafion, in particular their swelling in water, which is different in several aspects from "classical" swelling of nonpolar polymers.

Another focus of my work is the development of new types of composite membranes for reverse osmosis/ nanofiltration based on novel manufacturing procedures and on the modification of commercial membranes to improve their rejection and antifouling properties.

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