Advanced Technologies in Wastewater Treatment: Food, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industry

Roberto Castro-Muñoz, a Food engineer and two PhD’s in Biotechnology and EUDIME Membrane Engineering, is a Research Professor at Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Sanitary Engineering, Poland. He has experience in membrane science and technology with expertise in pressure-driven membrane processes, pervaporation, gas separation, membrane distillation and the synthesis of composite membranes for selective gas and solvent separations. Roberto focuses on the application of such processes in different fields such as food processing, chemical and biochemical processes, environment and biotechnology.

Angelo Basile is a Full Professor and a leading authority in membrane science and technology. Since 2014, he has served as Full Professor in Systems, Methods and Technologies of Chemical Engineering Processes at CNR-ITM in Rende, Italy. His work covers hydrogen purification and production using membrane reactors, CO2 capture, process intensification, and the treatment of industrial effluents with advanced membrane operations. Basile has edited many scientific books and authored numerous book chapters, bridging complex research with clear knowledge for engineers and scientists. Motivated by the role of AI/ML in accelerating membrane process design and automation, he supports integrating data-driven methods for smart plants and reaction–separation optimisation.

Alfredo Cassano has worked as a Researcher at CNR-ITM in Italy since 2000. Trained in Biology, he specializes in membrane science and technology, including conventional membrane processes, membrane contactors, and integrated membrane operations used for wastewater treatment and agro-food applications. He has led or directed research through numerous national MIUR-funded projects, as well as European Union international projects and industry collaborations. Cassano contributes to the scientific community through editorial-board roles and has co-authored several books, numerous journal articles, and chapters, alongside conference and invited work, and two national patents. His interests include recovering bioactive compounds from by-products, membrane distillation, osmotic distillation, and wastewater remediation, motivated by bridging membrane technology with practical AI/ML and real-time monitoring to advance circular economy resource recovery.