Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1991
B.S., Chemical Process Engineering, University of Hamburg, 1985
Research Interests
Professor Pinnau's research interests are in membrane processes for the separation of gases and liquids: natural gas treatment, CO2 sequestration, hydrogen recovery, olefin/paraffin separation and water purification. His research focuses on synthesis of high-performance polymers; development of high-performance membranes for gas and liquid separations; hybrid organic/inorganic membranes; nanostructured microporous polymer membranes; thin-film technology; and membrane modifications (surface coatings/fouling resistance).
Selected Publications
T.C. Merkel, B.D. Freeman, R.J. Spontak, Z. He, I. Pinnau, P. Meakin, A.J. Hill, "Ultrapermeable, reverse-selective nanocomposite membranes", Science 296, 519-522 (2002). [409 ISI citations]
T.C. Merkel, V.I. Bondar, K. Nagai, B.D. Freeman, I. Pinnau, "Gas sorption, diffusion, and permeation inpolydimethylsiloxane", J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed. 38, 415-434 (2000). [318 ISI citations]
K. Nagai, T. Masuda, T. Nakagawa, B.D. Freeman, I. Pinnau, "Poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] and related polymers: synthesis, properties, and functions", Progr. Polym. Sci. 26, 721-798 (2001). [297 ISI citations]
I. Pinnau, L.G. Toy, "Transport of organic vapors through poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1- propyne)", J. Membr. Sci. 116, 199(1996). [131 ISI citations]
I. Pinnau, W.J. Koros, "Structures and gas separation properties of asymmetric polysulfone membranes made by dry,wet and dry/wet phase inversion", J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 43, 1491 (1991). [122 ISI citations]
I. Pinnau, L.G. Toy, "Solid polymer electrolyte composite membranes for olefin/paraffin separation", J. Membr.Sci 184, 39-48 (2001). [83 ISI citations]