We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Yasmin Hitchin as our new Filter Scientist at Panton McLeod. With a robust background in water filtration research, Yasmin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will undoubtedly propel our company’s initiatives to new heights.
Yasmin recently wrapped up her Panton McLeod sponsored PhD, where she delved into the critical issue of water scarcity exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Her research focused on nanofiltration (NF) membranes, particularly polyamide and cellulose acetate, to address challenges in water treatment plants. One of the major hurdles she tackled was membrane fouling, a persistent issue affecting membrane performance due to the accumulation of organic, inorganic, and biological matter on the membrane surface.
As part of this she utilised Panton McLeod formulations, specifically PM100, to clean contaminated membranes. Notably, her findings revealed that membrane fouling and cleaning are temperature-dependent. Typically, current methods for membrane cleaning require warmer water to be effective but found that the cleaning process with the PM chemical was highly successful at ambient temperatures, offering a new, cost-effective solution.
In her final data chapters, Yasmin successfully bridged lab-scale findings to real-scale membrane treatment through pilot-scale experiments. These experiments showcased the efficacy of PM cleaning in recovering membrane performance after fouling, especially in cyclic fouling-cleaning filtration experiments using state-of-the-art equipment.
In her new role at Panton McLeod, Yasmin aims to leverage her expertise to develop successful cleaning methods for various filtration types, including RGF, GAC, and NF. Her overarching goal is to contribute to advancements in filtration technology and cleaning methods and to make a lasting impact on the industry.
If you’re interested in connecting with Yasmin, here are some topics you can discuss with her:
- Nanofiltration membrane processes
- Cellulose acetate and poly(piperazine amide) membrane substrates
- Membrane fouling, including chemical and physical processes controlling contamination
- Membrane cleaning in place and optimization of PM cleaning based on membrane fouling
- Membrane characterisation techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, goniometry, surface roughness measurement, and surface forces.
Yasmin’s dedication to advancing water filtration science aligns seamlessly with our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions. We look forward to the valuable contributions she will make in her role as Filter Scientist at Panton McLeod. Stay tuned for exciting developments in water filtration technology with Yasmin at the helm!
Ready to dive deeper into water filtration with Yasmin? Reach out to her at: yasmin.hitchin@pantonmcleod.co.uk
