| Abstract: | Claimed as a major advance in microfiltration technology, Ceramesh is an inorganic composite ceramic membrane that can be produced in a flat sheet suitable for use in process-scale crossflow filtration systems. The membrane combines a metal mesh and a ceramic to give strength, formability and both chemical and heat resistance The Ceramesh membrane technology has its origins in work carried out at Alcan Separations in Banbury and has been under development since 1988. Some of the original team had also worked on the development of the Anopore membrane, since commercialised by Anotec, and these close personal links have been maintained. Ceramesh Ltd was formed in 1990 by Alcan and a venture capital company with the aim of speeding the development of the membrane and ensuring its early introduction to the commercial filtration market. These objectives have now been achieved and by the middle of 1992 the Ceramesh membrane has been evaluated for a number of specific applications, been incorporated into a range of commercial filtration equipment, and formally launched into the chemical-process industries at the Eurochem exhibition held in Birmingham in June. |
