Welcome to the Polymer and Separations (PolySep) Research Laboratory at UCLA.  At PolySep  we focus on the fundamentals of surface chemical engineering. Our mission is to develop  experimental and  theoretical approaches to exploit the unique properties of nanostructured macromolecular surfaces in a variety of applications such as membrane (e.g., ultrafiltration, pervaporation and desalination) and adsorption separation processes, surface wettability, adhesion, nano- and  micro-devices for biomedical applications and chemical sensors. Our laboratory is also engaged in research on neural networks and their application to pattern recognition, physicochemical property estimations, quantitative structure activity relations (QSPRs) in environmental applications and process analysis.  

This web site describes the general scope of our research activities and information on new developments in structuring of surfaces by silylation and graft polymerization, solute-surface interactions at nano-structured polymeric interfaces, chemical and surface crystallization sensors, nano-structured ceramic-supported polymer (CSP) membranes, wettability and hydrodynamics of molecular polymer brush layers, smart polymeric materials, sorption and size exclusion chromatography resins, membrane separation processes (ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and pervaporation) and neural networks based research on molecular based QSPRs.

Polysep is continuing the tradition of fundamental and applied research in membrane separations at UCLA - the birthplace of the first viable cellulose reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. Click here for information on the early RO membrane development work at UCLA. 

PolySep is a participant in the Water Technology Research (WaTeR) Center which is directed by Prof. Y. Cohen.  The WaTeR Center conducts research on water technology (desalination and reclamation) with a current focus on water desalination. 

Note: Professor Cohen (the Director of PolySep) is also engaged in environmental research and details regarding some of these activities are available in the section on Environmental Analysis of this web site. Dr. Cohen also directs the modeling group of the newly established UCLA/NSF Center on Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology. Dr. Cohen's environmental research group  is also participating in the European Multi-Country Project on Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment of Cumulative Stressors.  His group is collaborating with the Transport Phenomena Research Group at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili.

Additional information on Dr. Cohen's research on water technology is available at the Water Technology Research Center

Contact Information:
Dr. Yoram Cohen
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department
5531 Boelter Hall
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1592
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Last update:

09/22/2008