November 5, 2001

Winners Announced for Cooperative Research in Polymer Science and Engineering

Dr. Freeman

Dr. Benny D. Freeman, professor and associate department head of chemical engineering at North Carolina State University, and Dr. Ingo Pinnau, principal scientist at Membrane Technology and Research Inc. (MTR) of Menlo Park, Calif., and adjunct professor of chemical engineering at NC State, are winners of the 2002 Award for Cooperative Research in Polymer Science and Engineering presented by the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Division of Polymeric Materials:  Science and Engineering (PMSE).  Dr. Loren Hill, chairman of the PMSE Cooperative Research Award Committee, announced the award, which has been presented annually since 1992, when it was endowed by a gift from the Eastman Kodak Company to PMSE.

Freeman and Pinnau’s award is based on sustained, significant contributions in the areas of gas, vapor and liquid separations using polymer and polymer-based membranes. Their research has identified fundamental limitations of existing membranes and led to new materials that circumvent these limitations.  Since 1994 their cooperative research has resulted in more than 25 joint publications, two ACS Symposium series books, many jointly led conferences and symposia, more than $4 million in Federal research support for cooperative research projects between MTR and NC State, more than 20 joint oral presentations and significant advancement of the field of novel separations using polymer membranes.

Freeman’s research interests include development of membranes for liquid, gas and vapor separations; controlled drug delivery devices and techniques; barrier plastics for food and specialty packaging; monomer and solvent removal from formed polymers; and physical aging of glassy polymeric materials and membranes.  He received his bachelor’s degree from NC State in 1983 and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988, both in chemical engineering.

Pinnau directs the materials and membrane production group at MTR.  He has developed a variety of polymeric, solid polymer electrolyte, metal and nanocomposite membranes for next-generation separation applications in the chemical, petrochemical and allied industries.  He holds 22 US patents and has received three Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowships. 

For more information, contact Dr. Loren Hill, chairman of the PMSE Cooperative Research Award Committee, 413/596-4463.

Media Contacts:  Dr. Benny D. Freeman, 919/515-2460, benny_freeman@ncsu.edu
Linda E. Rudd, 919/515-3848, linda_rudd@ncsu.edu

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