Professor Bart Van der Bruggen is a globally recognized authority in chemical engineering with exceptional contributions to sustainable separation technologies and membrane science. He currently serves as Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at KU Leuven, Belgium, where he has been a faculty member since 2004 and attained full professorship in October 2009. Professor Van der Bruggen also leads the Division Sustainable Process Technology and the Subdivision Separation Processes at KU Leuven, directing research in the ProcESS research group. Born in Asse, Belgium in 1972, he completed his PhD in Applied Sciences, Chemical Engineering at KU Leuven in September 2000, establishing the foundation for his internationally acclaimed career in process engineering.
His pioneering research has revolutionized membrane technology applications, particularly in solvent separation processes including pervaporation, membrane reactors for (trans)esterification, and organic solvent nanofiltration. With an extraordinary citation record exceeding 72,700 according to Google Scholar, his work has established fundamental principles for advanced water treatment and chemical processing technologies worldwide. As Editor of Separation and Purification Technology and Executive Editor of Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, he has shaped the scientific discourse in his field through rigorous editorial leadership. His methodological innovations have been implemented in industrial applications addressing critical challenges in resource recovery and wastewater treatment across multiple sectors.
Professor Van der Bruggen maintains significant international influence through his role as Visiting Professor at Dalian University of Technology in China and Extraordinary Professor at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. His expertise is globally sought after, evidenced by his extensive peer review activities for 74 different ISI journals and numerous funding bodies across more than ten countries. Having previously served on the Council of the European Membrane Society from 2013 to 2017, he continues to provide strategic leadership in advancing membrane science through professional organizations and collaborative networks. Currently directing cutting-edge research in Process Engineering for Sustainable Systems, his laboratory remains at the forefront of developing innovative separation technologies to address pressing environmental challenges while promoting circular economy principles in industrial processes.
