About the Presentation 

Membrane technology is foundational to advanced water treatment, desalination, and water reuse. At the same time, it offers vast potential to meet demanding industrial separation needs. However, conventional membranes remain constrained by the longstanding trade-off between permeance and selectivity. In this presentation, Professor Tang highlights recent research innovations designed to overcome these limitations through ultra-permeable and ultra-selective membranes. He will introduce a novel nanofoaming technology that simultaneously enhances membrane permeance and salt rejection, pushing the frontier of desalination and water reuse. Beyond bulk salt separation, these membranes can be tailored to remove small-sized trace contaminants — such as boron and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — to provide an elevated level of product water quality. Building upon the development of ultra-permeable membranes, the presentation will explore new process opportunities that enhance a range of versatile water applications, spanning from highly energy-efficient water treatment to emergency response scenarios. Finally, the discussion will spotlight recent advancements in ultra-selective membranes and their emerging industrial applications.

About the speaker:

Chuyang TANG is a CDE Chair Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he serves as the Director of the NUS Environmental Research Institute. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2007 from Stanford University. Before joining NUS, he was a Chair Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. Professor Tang’s research focuses on membrane and filter technology, environmental materials, desalination, water reuse, resource recovery, and water-energy nexus. He has published more than 400 refereed journal papers and is recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Environment and Ecology by Clarivate. Professor Tang is known for his inventions on Rapid Water Filters and Aquaporin Biomimetic Membranes. He is a recipient of Hong Kong Research Grants Council’s Senior Research Fellowship, Finland Distinguished Professor Program Fellowship, and International Desalination Association Fellowship.