Membrane Applications
Science and Technology
(MAST) Center

An NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center

—A global leader in membrane research for over 30 years—

About Us

The Membrane Applications Science and Technology (MAST) Center is a National Science Foundation Industry and University Cooperative Research Center. The MAST Center has been conducting industrially relevant precompetitive research for over 30 years. The MAST Center works closely with its industrial sponsors to develop innovative solutions to separations challenges. The Center consists of four partner institutions: The University of Arkansas, The University of Colorado, The New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Pennsylvania State University. In addition, the MAST Center collaborates with the R&D Center for Membrane Technology at Chung Yuan University in Taiwan.

Our Center focuses on new membrane materials and processes and their industrial applications. Membranes are made of polymers, inorganic materials, or hybrids of the two. They are used for the separation and purification of chemical compounds, biological molecules, and other process streams. Membranes have broad industrial applications in biomedical, biopharmaceutical, chemical, food, petrochemical, and water purification/wastewater recycle and reuse. The MAST Center provides the expertise, infrastructure, facilities, and a range of state-of-the-art equipment for conducting highly specialized research projects.

Industrial separations account for a significant portion of the world's energy budget. Development of new, more efficient and sustainable separation processes is of tremendous societal benefit. By bringing together membrane manufacturers, users and experts at the research institutions, the MAST Center is uniquely positioned to affect many areas of society in water, energy and health care.

The MAST Center consists of leading membrane manufacturers as well as users. The MAST Center research program is divided into six theses: Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing, Water Purification, Chemical Separations, Membrane Fundamentals, Food & Beverage, and Green Industry. More information on our projects can be found here.

Mission

Vision

Provide value for our sponsors through high quality research and access to unique facilities and a network of leading faculty, provide unique training opportunities for our postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers, promote membrane research via outreach to the university, membrane community, and broader public.

We will be recognized as the leading research center in the membrane community, as well as a leading NSF I/UCRC and a model for other I/UCRCs.

What are the benefits of being an NSF-sponsored Center?

The MAST Center is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Center Program (IUCRC). Our center applied and was awarded a grant from the NSF to further larger objectives, while meeting our center-specific research goals. The NSF represents collaboration between universities, industry, and government. There are many focus areas funded by NSF, but only two centers are allowed in each zone. Our MAST Center here at the University of Arkansas is the only current NSF IUCRC center in the area of membranes research. More information about the NSF IUCRC is available here.

Our research infrastructure and expertise enable us to conduct research in six main research areas: membrane fundamentals, biopharmaceutical processing, chemical separations, food and beverage, green industry, and water purification. The Center's Industry Advisory Board selects projects to fund annually, and has supported nearly 100 research initiatives since its inception.

Research

Learn More

The MAST Center develops proprietary information and rapidly transfers that information to our sponsors for their use in product development and problem solving. Becoming a sponsor or the MAST Center offers access to advanced facilities and expert faculty at four top research universities, along with highly skilled graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, reduced R&D costs, and the opportunity to participate in ongoing projects. Members can also provide project feedback during meetings, network with IAB representatives, and hire trained graduate students in specialized research areas.