Jonathan Maisonneuve
Group:
Full Member
Biography:
Jonathan Maisonneuve is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioresource Engineering at McGill University, where he directs the Water, Energy, and Environment Lab. His research is focused on membrane separation processes for water purification, clean energy, and sustainable food systems. He has a multidisciplinary background with degrees in environmental science (B.Sc. McGill University), building engineering (M.Eng. Concordia University), and electrical engineering (Ph.D. Concordia University). Prior to joining McGill University, he was a tenured faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Oakland University.
Department:
Bioresource Engineering
Area(s):
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
Current research:
- Energy-efficient desalination: Developing next-generation processes to lower energy demand of seawater and brackish water treatment.
- Thermally driven water purification: Advancing separation technologies powered by low-grade heat and solar energy.
- Pollutant removal: Targeting PFAS and other emerging contaminants using selective membranes.
- Ion polarization at membrane interfaces: Understanding transport phenomena to enhance selectivity and permeability.
- Crystallization of precious and rare earth metals: Recovering critical resources from aqueous streams.
- Atmospheric water harvesting: Designing systems to capture clean water directly from air.
- Dehumidification for controlled plant environments: Creating energy-efficient humidity control solutions for greenhouses and indoor agriculture.
Areas of interest:
Prof. Maisonneuve’s lab develops advanced membrane technologies to address global challenges in clean water, renewable energy, and sustainable food production. The team focuses on improving the energy efficiency of desalination and water purification, recovering valuable resources such as nutrients and rare earth metals from brines, and separating gases for applications like carbon capture and greenhouse dehumidification. To do this, the lab combines theoretical analysis, numerical modeling, bench-scale testing, and prototype design to study performance tradeoffs in these processes. The lab also seeks collaborations with industry and communities to co-develop locally practical solutions.
Stream:
SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation