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Synthetic membrane
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<p>An artificial membrane, or synthetic membrane, is a synthetically created membrane which is usually intended for separation purposes in laboratory or in industry. Synthetic membranes have been successfully used for small and large-scale industrial processes since the middle of the twentieth century. A wide variety of synthetic membranes is known. They can be produced from <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic</a> materials such as polymers and liquids, as well as <a href="/facts/Inorganic/TfFfzxSz">inorganic</a> materials. Most commercially utilized synthetic membranes in industry are made of <a href="/facts/Polymeric/eF32E50K">polymeric</a> structures. They can be classified based on their <a href="/facts/Surface_chemistry/WTENdutJ">surface chemistry</a>, bulk structure, <a href="/facts/Morphology_(biology)/Nl3B0myy">morphology</a>, and production method. The chemical and physical properties of synthetic membranes and separated particles as well as separation driving force define a particular membrane separation process. The most commonly used driving forces of a membrane process in industry are <a href="/facts/Pressure/eyc37GRG">pressure</a> and <a href="/facts/Concentration_gradient/lcIz28qY">concentration gradient</a>. The respective membrane process is therefore known as <a href="/facts/Filtration/x4no9XQy">filtration</a>. Synthetic membranes utilized in a separation process can be of different geometry and flow configurations. They can also be categorized based on their application and separation regime. The best known synthetic membrane separation processes include <a href="/facts/Water_purification/rguCGW3q">water purification</a>, <a href="/facts/Reverse_osmosis/U3EJPFHN">reverse osmosis</a>, <a href="/facts/Dehydrogenation/vwFAAqzp">dehydrogenation</a> of natural gas, removal of cell particles by <a href="/facts/Microfiltration/7BFxE3v8">microfiltration</a> and <a href="/facts/Ultrafiltration/8YXnNeM3">ultrafiltration</a>, removal of microorganisms from dairy products, and <a href="/facts/Dialysis_(biochemistry)/7I8t5LCA">dialysis</a>. </p>