Welcome to the African Membrane Society site.

The mission of the African Membrane Society (AMSIC) is to train a critical mass of experts in the field of membrane science, filtration and sustainable energy technologies across Africa.  AMSIC further encourages the enrollment of students in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). AMSIC seeks to facilitate and ensure access to clean drinking  water, clean ambient air quality and improved human health on the African continent and other regions of the world.

AMSIC Newsletter, issue 10 (En) December_2020 - Download PDF

Newsletter #10, Editorial Notes, -(English)

Editorial by Abdoulaye Doucouré President of AMSIC

Main accomplishments in 2020

Despite a challenging year heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, our network was able to complete some important tasks highlighted as follows:

Enrollment
25% membership growth in 2020. AMSIC counts 150 members spread across 25 countries and 4 continents

*Tutorials

¹ Samuel S. Coker (AMSIC) – held 02/24/20
² Darren Reynolds and Gillian Clayton, faculty from UWE Bristol (UK) - held 07/23/20
³ Raja Ben Amar (AMSIC) – held 10/21/20
⁴ Michael O. Daramola (AMSIC) – held 10/27/20

Higher Education Training

8 AMSIC faculty volunteering for teaching membrane, filtration courses in 2021
Partnering with World Association of Membrane Societies for initiating MOOC membrane courses

Apprenticeship Technician Center

Kick-off in Dakar (AMSIC-3) in collaboration with IEM, UNESCO-SIMEV chair (Montpellier, France)

Communication & visibility

Biannual newsletter (issues #9, #10 in 2020)

Abdoulaye Doucouré (AMSIC) Presented at ICOM during WA-MS session- held 12/09/20

*Tutorial events organized or promoted by AMSIC. Speaker’s topic as follows:

1-Depth filtration for blood transfusion safety and patient protection: potential use in Africa
2-Mobile water treatment systems using electrochemically activated solution and UF for clean water production
3-Water-Energy nexus in Middle East North Africa region, on October 15, 21, 2020. AMSIC member Cheima Fersi from INRAP, Tunisia, was a co-organizer
4- Sustainable chemical engineering practices as a catalyst to realize SDG’s, a Professorial Inaugural
Lecture organized by University of Pretoria, South Africa

Projects in the pipeline for 2021:

To establish effective membrane and filtration development programs issues relative to collaborative
engagement, active publishing and increased professional visibility must be prioritized. For the coming
year, our network will concentrate on delivering some tangible outcomes and assess their impact, which
includes

Creation of a member’s profile database
Inventory of scientific publications and patent filing
Tracking of transnational research collaborations in Africa
Tracking of transcontinental research collaborations
Emerging Academia-Industry interactions

Let us hope that the global health environment will be safe enough to hold AMSIC-3 (November 2-5), in Dakar, Sénégal and give us an opportunity to meet. The end of 2021 will lead to an exciting era with a new AMSIC presidency and the preparation of our 4th congress to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the first time.

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AMSIC Newsletter, issue 8, January_2020 - Download PDF (English Only)

Bulletin #8,Editorial Notes, -(English)

Editorial By                                     Abdoulaye Doucouré President of AMSIC AMSIC invites the world filtration community to Africa: Dakar, Senegal November 3-6th, 2020

The prevalence of socio-economic disparity across the globe has reached a level triggering intense debates among key stakeholders from the government and policy-making branches, research and higher education circles, and community advocacy groups. To complicate matters, fixing the uneven distribution of wealth must account for other pressing challenges reflected by weather instabilities and climate change, fast-expanding demographics in some regions, shrinking agricultural landscapes, or weaker ecological systems. For Africa, moving to an era of industrialization offers some attractive opportunities to most effectively support several vital and basic needs from its citizens – i.e. 1.2 billion inhabitants, with 45% of them living in urban centers. With a population expected to double by 2050 and a limited contribution to the global fossil fuel consumption, the continent will have to build its industrial infrastructure by finely balancing two strategies: a) advocating for more relaxed constraints related to CO2 emissions control; b) promoting sustainable innovation and implementing environment-friendly technological solutions. The 3rd African Membrane Society Congress seeks to examine how filtration and energy experts can advance sustainable development agendas benefiting both urban centers and small isolated communities. Specifically, activities subsequently highlighted are the cornerstone of AMSIC strategy to encourage durable changes in synergy with local residents and respectful of the environment..

Air Filtration & Quality: with 92% of the world population living in areas where World Health Organization air quality guidelines are not met, AMSIC intends to prioritize issues of air filtration, air quality in its technical programs and to treat nonwoven/fiber materials sciences as an integral component of the membrane science disciplines. Experts from the nonwoven community will prepare “air tutorials” during AMSIC-3. Other technical contributors will engage in a conference, educate and share data on nonwoven materials utilized for indoor air filtration and ambient air treatment..

Exposition and Technician workshop: there are numerous ways to create conditions favorable to build an industrial infrastructure, which for Africa, will help alleviate vital needs and close socio-economic gaps. Our network seeks to play an active role by supporting a commercial exposition bringing together local and international exhibitors from the filtration and energy industries. Another key project aims to create training certificates for technicians with a strong focus on hands-on competencies. Our goal is to start a couple of multi-national projects in Africa by 2021. AMSIC-3 plans to host a Question/Answer round table session on the final proposal and debate on the next steps..

Abdoulaye Doucouré
Président of AMSIC.

AMSIC Newsletter, issue 8, January_2020 - Download PDF (English Only

Bulletin #7, Notes éditoriales, -(French)

Editorial Par Raja BEN AMAR Professeur Département Chimique Faculté des sciences, Université de Sfax - Tunisie Vice-Présidente de l’AMSIC 2ème congrès international Francophone sur la filtration et les techniques séparatives ou FRANCOFILT

Avec des universités classées au meilleurs rang à l’échelle Africaine et un grand nombre de centres de recherche et de pôles technologiques, la Tunisie s’affirme comme un pays qui mise sur le développement des compétences, l’encouragement à la valorisation des résultats de la recherche à travers le partenariat entreprise-université et la mise en place de bonnes pratiques de création d’entreprises pour développer une économie moderne et concurrentielle.

La Tunisie accueillera le 2ème congrès international Francophone Francophile sur la filtration et les techniques séparatives qui aura lieu du 23 au 25 Septembre 2019 à la ville balnéaire Hammamet. Il succédera au 1er congrès Francofilt qui s’est déroulé durant la période 29-31 Aout 2017 à Bordeaux et qui a connu un franc succès. Ce congrès sera co-organisé par la Faculté des Sciences de Sfax (Université de Sfax (Tunisie), l’Université de Blida (Algérie), l’Université de Bordeaux (France) et l’Institut de la Filtration et des Techniques Séparatives (France). Les techniques séparatives, essentiellement celles se basant sur la technologie membranaire sont en plein développement dans le monde, qu’il d’agisse du domaine de l’environnement, de la santé, de l’eau ou du domaine industriel.

Cette année la devise du congrès concernera les aspects spécifiques des techniques séparatives et des procédés membranaires portant sur l’adaptation des progrès techniques aux contraintes locales. Cet événement sera l’occasion de débattre et discuter des questions techniques, scientifiques et socio-économiques de la science et de la technologie des membranes et de découvrir les dernières avancées et les pratiques les plus innovantes en matière de séparation Solide/Fluide et des technologies membranaires.

Des échanges entre experts de la recherche et industriels, ingénieurs, exploitants et décideurs sur des thématiques pointues et spécialisées offriront des opportunités de réseautage et de socialisation.

Les deux journées de Francofilt 2019, seront consacrées aux interventions techniquesqui combineront des présentations orales, des interventions plénières et keynotes, des table-rondes et des posters scientifiques.
Plusieurs participants du monde entier seront présents à cet événement, ce qui permettra des échanges fructifiants. Les thèmes abordés traiteront des problématiques environnementales, énergétiques et sanitaires pour lesquels les techniques séparatives sont en mesure d’apporter des solutions durables (Traitement des eaux, traitement l’air intérieur, valorisation des eaux usées, Dessalement et énergies renouvelables, Filtration pour les applications biomédicales/biopharmaceutiques, Méthodes de
caractérisation, essais et techniques d’analyse).

Rendez-vous à Francofilt !

Raja Ben Amar
Présidente du congrès Francofilt 2019.

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Newsletter #6, Editorial notes, -(English)

Sidy Ba, PE, PhD Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée, Katibougou, Mali Director of Publications & Newsletter Editor for AMSIC

Welcome to the African Membrane Society Newsletter!

One of the main objectives of AMSIC is to teach and train a critical mass of students to be scientifically and technologically capable of harnessing the potential of membranes in the sustainable industrial development of Africa. To this end, AMSIC is calling for partnership and collaboration between its members and between its members and external experts in the field of membranes from various horizons (academia, industries, public organizations, etc.)

To ensure that membranes in Africa are not just about esoteric knowledge between experts in academia, AMSIC urges its members to focus their work in meeting the needs of the populations across the continent through sound practical projects.

Enjoy reading AMSIC Newsletters and please do not hesitate to send us your comments and suggestions. Our AMSIC team of experts will gladly get back to you.

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Newsletter #6, Editorial notes, -(English)

Sidy Ba, PE, PhD Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée, Katibougou, Mali Director of Publications & Newsletter Editor for AMSIC

Welcome to the African Membrane Society Newsletter!

One of the main objectives of AMSIC is to teach and train a critical mass of students to be scientifically and technologically capable of harnessing the potential of membranes in the sustainable industrial development of Africa. To this end, AMSIC is calling for partnership and collaboration between its members and between its members and external experts in the field of membranes from various horizons (academia, industries, public organizations, etc.)

To ensure that membranes in Africa are not just about esoteric knowledge between experts in academia, AMSIC urges its members to focus their work in meeting the needs of the populations across the continent through sound practical projects.

Enjoy reading AMSIC Newsletters and please do not hesitate to send us your comments and suggestions. Our AMSIC team of experts will gladly get back to you.

Full PDF Download #6

Online edition Newsletter #6

Newsletter #5, Editorial notes, February 2018

Edward Nxumalo AMSIC African Membrane Society Board, External Relations Associate Professor University of South Africa

The 2nd African Membrane Society International Congress (AMSIC-2) will be held in the City of Johannesburg (South Africa) from July 29th to August 1, 2018

Newsletter #4, Editorial notes, #4, Sept 2017

Abdoulaye Doucouré President of AMSIC African Membrane Society

Demographic Factors 2015-2017: What associative issues for the coming years?

In December 2017 AMSIC members vote to renew the Board of Directors of the Association (12 posts). Thus, it seemed useful to us to compile some associative demographic data to appreciate the progress made in three years and to clarify the issues that we will face very soon. The first observation is that AMSIC is still present and it is an exchange platform particularly useful for those interested in the emergence of membrane and filtration processes in Africa. The second observation is the effort of the members of the association, which has been supported by other academic and industrial structures whose scientific expertise has been beneficial (The projects have thus benefited from a better technical visibility). The third observation is the growing community of scientists and professionals based in Africa, who joined the association. A trend that we must rejoice.

At the end of 2017, the AMSIC has close to 90 members spread across the continent's five economic centers (Fig. 1). Half of the members reside in West Africa, those living in North Africa and in other regions of the world, each mobilize one-fifth of the membership. The representatives of the other three continental areas make up the tenth of our members, the majority of whom live in South Africa. One of the immediate concerns of the association is to speed up recruitment in Southern Africa and Central Africa; regions in which the presence of AMSIC remains low.

One third of the 54 African countries have at least one member among the members, making a total of 18 nations. Regional sharing, shown in Figure 2, reflects the presence of AMSIC in terms of the number of countries per region. The other regions of the world have 17 members residing in France, the USA, Italy, the Sultanate of Oman and Malaysia. Recall that the associative vision is to form a critical mass of experts specialized in membrane filtration and technologies associated with sustainable energies. Thus, the association will work for a better continental representation of the AMSIC, with a target of 27 to 36 countries by 2023 - that is to say at least one member per country.

Fig. 5: Projection of population growth


Since 2014, membership has grown from 35 to almost 90 members. This growth is based first of all on the mobilizations made during international meetings. It is by adopting a more aggressive strategy and using the modern tools of information and communication technologies that the associative workforce can possibly double by 2020.

Since 2014, membership has grown from 35 to almost 90 members. This growth is based first of all on the mobilizations made during international meetings. It is by adopting a more aggressive strategy and using the modern tools of information and communication technologies that the associative workforce can possibly double by 2020.

Conclusion The expansion of the AMSIC network is strategic because it will amplify the opportunities for exchange of experiences and transfer of knowledge to different parts of the continent, and at the same time between Africa and other regions of the world. In order to realize the associative vision that aims to form a critical mass of experts across ALL of Africa, it is imperative to speed up recruitment at the level of states that have no presence in our network. Thus in five years two thirds of African countries could participate in AMSIC.
In addition, we are aware of the challenges posed by the low representativeness of young researchers, student layers and also women within our association. The new Board of Directors will be asked to propose strategies capable of stimulating sustainable representative transformations from 2018.

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Newsletter #3, Editorial notes, February 2017

Edward Nxumalo Associate Professor University of South Africa

The 2nd African Membrane Society International Congress (AMSIC-2) will be held in the City of Johannesburg (South Africa)  from the 29th of July to the 1st of August 2018. The AMSIC-2 will be hosted by the Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (NanoWS) Research Unit of the University of South Africa (UNISA) The NanoWS Research Unit is situated in the UNISA’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology at the Science Campus in Florida (West of the City of Johannesburg). The NanoWS Research Unit has various focus areas of research under which numerous strategic projects relating to nanotechnology and water research are developed. Research topics that will be addressed during AMSIC-2   include, among others:

UF, NF, RO, FO and mixed matrix membranes (fabrication and applications),
Fabrication and modification of ceramic, ceramic-polymeric and hollow fibre membranes,
Composites, nanocomposites, nanomaterials in filtration,
Membranes coupled with renewable energy sources,
Hybrid membrane filtration systems.

This event aims to capture key technological advances in fields heavily dependent on membrane filtration such as Water, Biotechnology and Biomedical sciences, Microelectronics, Chemical Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, and Power Generation.  

As for membrane studies devoted to water, we will consider water purification projects, analytical/environmental research, urban water cycle and rural community development as well as bioremediation and analysis. The NanoWS research Unit is therefore well poised to host the AMSIC-2. We look forward to welcoming you to the City of Johannesburg in 2018!

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AMSIC Newsletter, issue 2, September 30, 2016 - Download PDF (French Only)

Newsletter #2, Editorial notes,

AMSIC Newsletter #2, September 30, 2016   Editorial : A word from the Secretary General of AMSIC, Professor Raja Ben Amar

The African Membrane Society (AMS) organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax (Tunisia) an international meeting on the ' Exploitation of Membrane Processes for Water Treatment in Small Communities and Urban Centers' from 3 to 5 May 2016. The Sfax community welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm AMS first international congress:  AMSIC-1. It is worth stressing that a key AMS priority is to stimulate technological transfer via the formation of a critical mass of experts and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The issues of access to water and drought are of great size and importance in African countries and a strict management of water resources is needed. This approach is likely to address more effectively transnational threats posed by armed conflicts, food crises and epidemic risks. On the other hand, good management of natural resources will warrant better control of the water needs in (still rising) communities, and disrupt the impact of water stress now rampant in the Maghreb (Northern Africa region) under the influence of global warming climate. Today, African states seem to have prioritized the need to mobilize and share the resources of the continent. AMS welcomes such initiatives and believes that its success is closely related to an active mobilization of African policy makers. In the field of water treatment, membrane filtration systems have several technological advantages for Africa (modularity and robustness of equipment, control of water quality, ease of use, etc.), especially as the investment and operating costs are getting closer to those of conventional treatment systems.The international meeting of Sfax (Tunisia) focused on major advances in academic and industrial research particularly in the field of membrane filtration technology for water treatment. The fallout from this event will be analyzed more extensively in our next newsletter but the following observations can already be identified: Specialists in filtration gathered to share the results of research projects in Africa and to make recommendations on future directions in technology management, stimulating economic growth through the development of water and energy resources. We hope that the convergence of these efforts will help curb the disastrous consequences of poverty in all countries of the African continent. AMSIC-1 conference took place over two days the first of which was devoted to filtration technologies for the production of drinking water and desalination processes. Topics such as Formation of Membrane Materials, Membrane Development and Fouling, Filtration Performance of Membranes and Modules were examined in depth by experts. Meanwhile, the contribution of renewable energies for an effective management of filtration processes was actively debated. The second day was dedicated to innovation in filtration systems and the application of membrane filtration in the field of irrigation, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, and to promote the exploitation of recycled and reuse water. These meetings gave us an opportunity to  brainstorm on the need to strengthen institutional partnerships in Africa in the field of education and through industrial partnerships. I was impressed by the strong attendance during our first international meeting and believe that it will contribute to African development in the scientific and socio-economic areas. The final report of our first congress (in progress) will provide more specific information, evaluate meeting outcomes and define some future areas of work for our association. The town of Sfax which hosted this event is the second largest city of Tunisia. Located about 270 kilometers from Tunis, it covers an area of ​​220 km2. Sfax is bordered by the Mediterranean to the east and the Gulf of Gabes in the south and has known many civilizations since antiquity (Berber, Romanian, Carthaginian, Byzantine and Arab-Muslim), These have left a rich and deep cultural heritage. The most important monuments of the historic center are i) the Ramparts and great Cisterns built in 856 (UNESCO heritage) at the time Aghlabids and considered among the major landmarks of the Arab-Muslim world, ii) The Great Mosque built by the Aghlabid and also iii) Thyna Roman city located about 10 km from the city of Sfax. In 2014, the wider metropolitan area of Sfax had 955,421 inhabitants, placing it second only to the governorate of Tunis. It plays a leading role in the Tunisian economy through the export of olive oil (1 in the world for the year 2015) and also fish. Other critical components of the Sfax economy are phosphate mining and oil exploration. Professor Raja Ben Amar

AMSIC Newsletter, issue 1, 2015 - Download PDF

Words of the President of AMSIC Abdoulaye DOUCOURE

The African Membrane Society is the result of discussions initiated in August 2010 in Bamako at a workshop of the Mali Symposium on Applied Sciences. Experts on water and membrane technologies present at the meeting had then expressed the wish to create a continental structure able to meet the following expectations: form a critical mass of African experts in the field of membrane filtration, water treatment and renewable energy; have a pan-African network where all continental cultures can discuss scientific and technological issues; engage close partnerships with global elites in the field of filtration; encourage the emergence of AMS as a scientific society; and promote partnership with the industry sector. AMSIC virtual network was created in 2011 which comprised about thirty members from West Africa, North Africa and some members in North America. After the launching of a virtual platform, this group has appointed an interim executive body that continued to operate between 2012 and 2014. AMSIC was officially created in August 2014 during a second international meeting in Bamako, and is headquartered at the National School of Engineers AB Touré of Bamako. Today, the association staff has doubled (65 members) and the website of the AMS counts more than 2,700 visitors. AMSIC advocates for the study and exploitation of filtration processes focused on Water, Health, Energy and Environment. In the area of water treatment, filtration units have several technological advantages for Africa (modularity and robustness of systems, consistency in water cleanliness, relative ease of use, etc.) and capital and operational costs tend to trend toward those of conventional platforms. The priority and the challenges for the AMS are to stimulate technological appropriation via the formation of a critical mass of experts and dissemination of scientific knowledge. An encouraging sign of our time is that African States seem to have incorporated the need to mobilize and share priority resources of the continent to address transnational threats posed by armed conflicts, food crises, drought and epidemic risks. AMS welcomes these initiatives and believes that its success is closely tied to active mobilization of African policymakers. We will assuredly seek their support to help the best research centers of the continent sharing their skills with those who may benefit from them. We believe that doctoral students and young African professionals have an essential role to play in the consolidation, or even normalization, of these inter-state exchanges. It is in this light that we maintain close ties with the younger members of the AMS and provide them with various services such as mentoring programs, invitations to meetings of the Board, travel grants, awards for the best scientific contributions, and a section for young talent in the newsletter. We believe that the development of partnerships in the filtration area outside of Africa is also essential. Our association has close ties with the Chair of the UNESCO-SIMEV (Science & Membranes for the Environment), the European Membrane Society, the European Membrane Institute, the Third World Academy of Science, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, and the California Institute of Technology. Their support has encouraged the emergence of AMS; we are very grateful to them. On the other hand, we regularly exchange with the Aseanian Membrane Society and the North American Membrane Society to strengthen academic and industrial partnerships. Therefore, AMS seeks to respond to major development issues in the African countries by promoting the use of membrane filtration in key areas such as water, health and the environment. In addition to providing technological and scientific knowledge, it aims at networking all stakeholders, including policy makers, industry and the population according to various ways of disseminating information and consultation (website, newsletters, regular international meetings and symposia, etc.). Regarding the policymakers of African countries, their mobilization is essential for integrating these concerns into local policies.    Strengthening and enhancement of local skills through greater involvement of young PhD students and professionals is also a very important challenge that AMS wants to tackle. Finally, critical mass and visibility provided by the established wide network, participating in funding opportunities of pilot actions, and even more ambitious internationally involved future projects (including participation in competitive international calls).  For short-term goals, here is the list of 2015 and 2016 priorities that AMS has set: preparation of the next international meeting of the AMS in Sfax (Tunisia) in spring 2016; publication of a thrice-yearly AMS newsletters ; publication of an introductory membrane textbook on water treatment by African users; updating the AMS website; posting a database of African experts on filtration, membrane systems and water management. This newsletter aims to providing greater visibility to AMS activities (members, resources, projects, etc.), to present current projects on the promotion of filtration processes in Africa, and to integrate contributions of our esteemed partners. Abdoulaye DOUCOURE We hope you enjoy reading the first issue!