Monash University, CSIRO open new Membrane Pilot Facility at Clayton

Monash University and the CSIRO have opened a new Membrane Pilot Facility at Monash’s Clayton campus, which the pair say addresses a “critical gap” between lab-scale research in membrane technologies and their commercial deployment.

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According to a statement from Monash on Friday, the new facility at its New Horizons Building “supercharges Australia’s ability to translate world-class membrane research into real-world industrial solutions”.

It adds that membranes are involved in applications including clean hydrogen production, energy storage, chemical processing and water purification.

“This isn’t just a facility – it’s a national capability that will accelerate the development of next-generation membrane technologies in areas like water purification, green hydrogen and resource recovery,” said Professor Matthew Hill, Director of the Monash Centre for Membrane Innovation, in which the pilot facility sits.

“By embedding research excellence into infrastructure that can test, validate and scale emerging membrane technologies, we’re creating a launchpad for sovereign innovation and international collaboration.”

CSIRO’s Dr Zongli Xie said that the new pilot facility extends Monash and CSIRO’s long-standing partnership in membrane science.

“Together, Monash and CSIRO offer a complete innovation pipeline – from material design to membrane fabrication, optimisation and scale-up,” explained Xie. 

“This facility gives Australian science and industry a shared foundation to rapidly co-develop solutions for the most pressing resource and environmental challenges.”

Picture: supplied