WDRC scientists selected as Special Issue Editors of "Developments in Innovative Membrane Desalination Processes"

The Membranes Journal selected Professor NorEddine Ghaffour, Dr. Sofiane Soukane, and Dr. Alla Alpatova, both research scientists, as the guest editors of a special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375) entitled "Developments in Innovative Membrane Desalination Processes."  

After the announcement, we spoke with the group to learn more about their work's impact, opportunity, and challenges. You can read the full interview below:

How did the idea of this special issue of the Membrane Journal come about?

AA: The membrane desalination technologies are gaining increasing importance due to global water consumption and the depletion of conventional freshwater resources. Membranes, an internationally-recognized peer-reviewed journal, addresses this problem by preparing a special journal issue to call for the in-depth discussion of the newest research trends, challenges, and future directions associated with the comprehensive implementation of desalination technologies in water and wastewater treatment. 

SS: The journal proposed the topic of the special issue.

How were you selected as guest editors? What are the possible opportunities, and how will this positively impact your group's work at the WDRC?

AA: Prof. NorEddine Ghaffour is a leading expert in desalination technologies specializing in reducing desalination costs and developing innovative low-energy hybrid desalination. Our team has extensive experience in various aspects of emerging and conventional membrane desalination ranging from seawater and brine management to process scale-up and new materials development. Being guest editors and working closely with our colleagues from academia and industry will help disseminate the water desalination domain's latest achievements among peers and the general public. It will lay the ground for future interdisciplinary research and collaboration, accelerate our research progress, and increase the group's visibility among water desalination experts. 

SS: I believe the outstanding developments of Prof. Ghaffour's group during the last decade motivated the choice of the editor. Moreover, most of our newly published articles tackle emerging membrane processes such as membrane distillation and forward osmosis. Our group will continue positioning as a key player in the field since both the European Membrane Society and Membrane Society of Australasia are affiliated to the "Membranes" Journal.

What could be potential challenges in launching the special issue of the Membrane Journal? Do you foresee if the 'new normal' due to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact your work as guest editors?

AA: So far, we have not experienced any significant challenges in launching this special issue. However, the "new normal" brings additional challenges in every aspect of our life,  and being guest editors may not be an exception. For example, we may anticipate a  slower than usual communication with our academic and industrial partners due to lockdowns and other work restrictions. We continuously monitor the current situation and adjust our plans accordingly.

SS: I think that the main challenges reside in finding potential reviewers and key authors to guarantee the quality of the special issue. The advertising step, to which you bring such a valuable contribution, is also critical to its success. As for the "new normal," I do not foresee any negative impact. The journal manager administratively handles the special issue, and the review side of it is part of our research activities.

Call for Papers

Professor NorEddine Ghaffour

Dr. Alla Alpatova

Dr. Sofiane Soukane

The team would be happy to consider applications for publication. The deadline for manuscript submissions is on 15 March 2021.
Those who are interested may find the full details in the link below:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/membranes/special_issues/membr_desalination