Author: The Szekely Group

Read the news piece on our efforts to sustainably source agarwood fragrances using algae and membrane technology. The Arab world’s history and significance of fragrances, particularly oud and perfumes, are deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the region. Rooted in ancient traditions, the use of perfumes in the Arab world can be traced back to the influence of early civilizations like the Egyptians. Oud, a prized component derived from the agarwood tree, stands out for its rich and complex scent, becoming a symbol of luxury and tradition in Arab perfumery. Perfumes in the Arab world extend beyond personal adornment, embodying hospitality, and a commitment to artisanal craftsmanship.
The sustainability of fragrances, including those rooted in Arab perfumery, is gaining prominence amid growing environmental concerns. Traditional perfumery, often reliant on natural plant-based ingredients, is transitioning towards sustainable practices. This shift involves ethical sourcing and biodiversity conservation. We have discovered chemically produced alternatives for ingredients normally sourced from agarwood trees for the production of perfumes in this $44 billion market. Read our article in Green Chemistry, in collaboration with Prof Kyle Lauersen’s team.

Image credit: Hassan A. Tahini @KAUST

We are thrilled to extend our warmest invitation to the upcoming 9th International Conference on Organic Solvent Nanofiltration, set to take place on 4-6 March 2024 at KAUST. 📣 This prestigious event aims to gather leading experts, researchers, and industry pioneers from around the globe to delve into the latest advancements, discoveries, and applications in the field of OSN membrane science and technology. As a distinguished participant, you will have the opportunity to engage in captivating discussions, share invaluable insights, and forge meaningful collaborations that will shape the future of OSN. With an exceptional lineup of speakers, interactive workshops, and poster presentations, this conference promises to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Join us in this stimulating journey of knowledge exchange and be a part of revolutionizing the OSN field. We look forward to your esteemed presence at the OSN2024!

Gyorgy Szekely and Suzana Nunes – Conference Chairs

Congratulations to Joyce Cavalcante for passing her PhD examination at KAUST in Novebmer 2023. Many thanks to their committee members, namely Profs Pascal Saikaly and Husam Alshareef from KAUST and Prof Robert Vajtai from Rice University. Defending a PhD thesis is no small feat, and you did it with flying colors! Your passion for your research and your unwavering commitment to details have shone through, heartfelt congratulations! Wishing you all the best for your career!

It’s been a pleasure to give a plenary talk at the 2M3-S conference in the beautiful city of Toruń, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 2nd Conference on Membrane Materials, Modification & Separation took place in Toruń, Poland, during 26–28 September 2023. During my talk I discussed the future of OSN with the title ‘Artificial Intelligence: the Silver Bullet for Molecular Sieving in Organic Solvents’. Many thanks to Gergo, Aron, Nawader and Cong for their work on the presented research!

I am greatful for the other invitation I received to give a plenary talk on the ‘Sustainable pharmaceutical separations via continuous nanofiltration’ during the 5th International Conference on Biosciences & Medical Engineering in Bali, Indonesia, during 30–31 August 2023. Many thanks to Abdulaziz, Virag, Gergo and Aron for their work on the presented research!

Many thanks to the organizers for the invitation and the great event!