Search

This study presents a novel Janus-structured 3D MXene-PA/MS material, prepared using a simple method, designed for high-concentration seawater desalination and water purification. The material features a bilayer structure, with the upper layer composed of a hydrophobic light-absorbing surface made of modified MXene and polyamide (PA) membranes, while the lower layer consists of a hydrophilic melamine sponge (MS). On the hydrophilic side, water is rapidly absorbed to form a thin water film. Water molecules establish a stable molecular network through hydrogen bonding and are influenced by surface adsorption forces, ensuring a continuous water supply. On the hydrophobic side, excess water infiltration is effectively prevented to avoid salt accumulation, while allowing water vapor to diffuse freely, thereby significantly enhancing the efficiency of the evaporation zone. This unique design combines efficient light absorption, superior thermal management, and excellent salt rejection capabilities. Under 1 sun illumination, the evaporator demonstrates an impressive evaporation rate of 1.49 kg m−2 h−1 and a high energy conversion efficiency of 92.8%. Even in a 20 wt% NaCl solution, the evaporation rate remains as high as 1.46 kg m−2 h−1. Additionally, under natural sunlight, the material achieves a daily freshwater production of up to 8.91 kg m−2, highlighting its potential in sustainable water resource management applications. [Display omitted] Solar-driven interfacial evaporation presents significant potential for seawater desalination and wastewater purification. However, prolonged operation in marine environments often results in salt accumulation, which adversely impacts the performance and lifetime of system. Despite the progress in material design, achieving efficient evaporation while mitigating salt crystallization remains challenging in high-salinity water. In this study, we synthesized a hierarchically structured C 18 H 37 -MXene/PA/MS evaporator employing a simple yet effective methodology specifically designed for applications in high-salinity water environments. The evaporator features a dual-region configuration, with an upper hydrophobic light-absorbing layer comprising modified MXene and polyamide (PA) membranes and a hydrophilic lower layer consists of hydrophilic melamine sponge (MS). This innovative design, incorporating an ultra-thin polyamide interlayer, significantly enhances interfacial stability, thereby mitigating the interfacial separation typically observed in conventional Janus materials during prolonged usage. Furthermore, the meticulous control over the thickness of the hydrophobic layer (5.54 μm) ensures optimal thermal insulation properties of the material. Consequently, the C 18 H 37 -MXene/PA/MS evaporator demonstrates an impressive evaporation rate of 1.49 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun illumination, with a high energy efficiency of 92.8 %. Furthermore, the Janus architecture ensures steady performance in high salinity conditions, sustaining a high evaporation rate of 1.46 kg m−2 h−1 even in a 20 wt% NaCl solution. Furthermore, under natural sunlight, the daily freshwater yield reaches 8.91 kg m−2. The exceptional evaporation efficiency and robust salt resistance highlight its strong potential for water desalination and wastewater treatment, contributing to the advancement of sustainable water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity necessitates desalination technologies, yet their high energy demands and brine disposal challenges hinder sustainability. This research study evaluates the energy footprint and carbon emissions of thermal- and membrane-based desalination technologies, alongside Minimal/Zero Liquid Discharge (MLD/ZLD) frameworks, with a focus on renewable energy source (RES) integration. Data revealed stark contrasts: thermal-based technologies like osmotic evaporation (OE) and brine crystallizers (BCr) exhibit energy intensities of 80–100 kWh/m3 and 52–70 kWh/m3, respectively, with coal-powered carbon footprints reaching 72–100 kg CO2/m3. Membrane-based technologies, such as reverse osmosis (RO) (2–6 kWh/m3) and forward osmosis (FO) (0.8–13 kWh/m3), demonstrate lower emissions (1.8–11.7 kg CO2/m3 under coal). Transitioning to RES reduces emissions by 90–95%, exemplified by renewable energy-powered RO (0.1–0.3 kg CO2/m3). However, scalability barriers persist, including high capital costs, RES intermittency, and technological immaturity in emerging systems like osmotically assisted RO (OARO) and membrane distillation (MD). This research highlights RES-driven MLD/ZLD systems as pivotal for aligning desalination with global climate targets, urging innovations in energy storage, material robustness, and circular economy models to secure water resource resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the social aspects of seawater desalination, especially as a strategy for community adaptation and resilience to water scarcity in arid and coastal regions, focusing on Baja California, México. This study aims to understand how social, cultural, political-institutional and territorial factors influence the acceptance and implementation of desalination technology. Through an inductive analysis based on a grounded theory methodology, this research employed a literature review and stakeholder semi-structured interviews to identify the potential impacts and key factors affecting desalination projects. Two research questions guided the investigation: (1) What sociopolitical factors influence the implementation of desalination projects in coastal communities? (2) How do these factors shape community responses to desalination initiatives? Through a case study of San Quintin, Baja California, it was found that stakeholder perspectives varied significantly regarding water management strategies. This analysis revealed that successful desalination implementation depends on four key factors: local governance structures, power relations among stakeholders, community engagement processes, and territorial characteristics. These findings suggest that effective desalination projects require integrating technical solutions with robust social processes that include meaningful community participation and the consideration of local contexts. This study contributes to the water adaptation and resilience literature and provides practical insights for policymakers and project developers working on desalination initiatives in similar coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global water scarcity crisis requires urgent action to improve wastewater treatment and develop sustainable water resources. This study focuses on producing Thin Film Composite (TFC) membranes based on polyethylene terephthalate track membranes (PET-TM) coated with polytetrafluorethylene-like material (PTFE), named PET-TM/PTFE-like, designed to purify saline water using Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD) technique. The research emphasizes the optimization of these membranes' chemical composition and surface characteristics by plasma that enhances their hydrophobicity and overall operational efficiency. A systematic investigation was conducted to clarify the relationship between water flux and salt rejection, enabling the customization of membrane properties for better performance. It was shown that salt rejection exceeding 99% is obtained for all the investigated PET-TM/PTFE-like membranes, with values up to 99.63% for the PET-TM(250 nm)/PTFE-like(200 nm) system and condensate flows as high as 1325 g/m2h for the PET-TM(450 nm)/PTFE-like(200 nm) system. This comprehensive analysis identified the most effective TFC configurations for AGMD applications, providing a promising pathway to advance desalination techniques and wastewater treatment solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination is a critical technology for addressing global water scarcity, yet its performance can be hindered by complex process dynamics and operational inefficiencies. This study investigates the revolutionary potential of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) for modeling SWRO desalination processes. PINNs are subsets of machine learning algorithms that incorporate physical information to help provide physically meaningful neural network models. The proposed approach is here demonstrated using operating data collected over several months in a Seawater RO plant. PINN-based models are presented to estimate the effects of operating conditions on the permeate TDS and pressure drop. The focus is on the feed water temperature variations and progressive membrane deterioration caused by fouling. Predictive models generated using PINNs showed high performances with a determination coefficient of 0.96 for the permeate TDS model and 0.97 for the pressure drop model. Results show that the use of PINNs significantly enhances the ability to predict membrane fouling and produced water quality, thereby supporting informed decision-making for RO process control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently a huge imbalance between the demand and supply of freshwater resources. The shortage of fresh water can be mitigated by seawater desalination. Reverse osmosis (RO) is currently the most popular desalination technology around the world. Despite its various advantages, fouling has been one of its major limitations of RO. Membrane fouling can be divided into four categories: colloidal fouling, inorganic fouling, organic fouling, and biofouling. Precipitation of inorganic salts of small solubility, among which CaCO3, CaSO4, BaSO4, and SiO2 are the most common ones, are the cause of inorganic fouling, which is commonly referred to as scaling. Pretreatment technologies for prevention or mitigation of scaling in the RO process can be classified as conventional pretreatment technologies, which include water softening and scale inhibitors, and membrane‐based pretreatment technologies which include nanofiltration, forward osmosis, and membrane surface modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the impact of integrating solar still with thermal energy storage material and flat plate solar collector (FPSC) on the freshwater productivity was experimentally investigated. The experiments were conducted on three types of similar-sized solar stills under climate conditions of Saudi Arabia. The first type was a conventional solar still (CSS), without any modifications. The second type was a modified solar still (MSS-1), CSS integrated with natural stones in the still basin. The third type was a modified solar still (MSS-2), CSS integrated with both natural stones and FPSC. Three types of natural stones with same quantity were selected and individually tested in the MSS-1 and MSS-2 simultaneously (each stone type on one day). The corresponding experimental results of MSS-1 showed a 11–32% increase in the daily freshwater yield, compared to CSS, indicating a minimal effect of natural stones utilization on the freshwater productivity. The MSS-2 showed a 155–183% increase in the daily freshwater yield, compared to CSS, indicating a significant effect of basin water heating on the freshwater productivity. The total dissolved solids (TDS) level was measured at 112 ppm, which complies with the permissible limits for drinking water quality standards. The economic analysis revealed that the cost to produce one liter of freshwater is 0.028, 0.022, and 0.027 $ from CSS, MSS-1, and MSS-2, respectively. Additionally, the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) analysis demonstrated the economic feasibility of the constructed solar still, with a BCR value of 2.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desalinating seawater is a crucial method for addressing the shortage of freshwater resources. High-efficiency, low-cost, and environmentally friendly desalination technologies are key issues that urgently need to be addressed. This work used Populus tomentosa Carr. as a matrix material and prepared Populus tomentosa Carr.@Fe-GA through a complexation reaction to enhance the water evaporation rate and photothermal conversion efficiency of seawater desalination. The concentration of the impregnation solution was further refined, and the bonding mechanism along with the thermal stability of the composite photothermal material was investigated, including an assessment of their photothermal conversion efficiency. The research results indicate that the evaporation rate of water in a 3.5% NaCl solution for Populus tomentosa Carr.@Fe-GA under light intensity conditions of one sun reached 1.72 kg·m−2·h−1, which was an increase of 44.5% compared to untreated Populus tomentosa Carr. It achieved a photothermal conversion efficiency of 95.1%, an improvement of 53.6% over untreated Populus tomentosa Carr., and maintained stability and high evaporation performance (95.4%) even after prolonged rinsing. This work realizes the functional utilization of seawater desalination with Populus tomentosa Carr. and offers a novel approach for the development and use of wood-derived photothermal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work develops a comprehensive review of the main conventional and emerging desalination processes. It presents the state of knowledge of the most known and investigated techniques, highlights their advantages and drawbacks, and draws appropriate conclusions on their respective performances from various angles including their energy consumption and efficiency, environmental impacts, reliability, and flexibility in operations. This review reveals the recent large dominance and deployment of the reverse osmosis technology in the Gulf countries, mainly in Saudi Arabia; the importance of hybridization; and the slow penetration of promising processes including membrane distillation and forward osmosis into the industrial desalination market. In addition, this work aims to develop some comparison exercises between these processes using specific criteria. A cross approach allowing an easier comparison between various desalination processes could help identify the advantages and drawbacks of each technology and select the appropriate process. Therefore, various criteria allowing a clear picture to be drawn of the performance and capabilities of the main conventional and emerging desalination processes have been proposed in the frame of sustainable development. As an illustration of this general approach from sustainability prospects and considering specific weights for each proposed criterion for the case of Saudi Arabia, a comparison exercise reveals that the superiority of reverse osmosis (RO) is confirmed. Multiple effect distillation (MED) and membrane distillation (MD) processes are potentially competitive to RO while multi-stage flash (MSF) comes last due to several drawbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of a solar heating system and a direct contact membrane distillation module to produce pure water. The study employs co-simulation techniques that combine TRNSYS and MATLAB. The integrated system consists of a flat sheet membrane module for purification, a hot water storage tank with an internally regulated auxiliary heater, and a flat plate collector for thermal energy supply. A novel membrane distillation module was used, allowing the liquid to make direct contact with the membrane. The module was developed in MATLAB, reprogrammed, and then integrated into the TRNSYS framework. The TRNSYS-MATLAB co-simulation assessed the integrated system's long-term efficiency. This novel solar desalination technique also improves prediction flexibility for various membrane distillation scales and configurations (such as co-current and counter-current). The current study used and validated the use of Polyvinylidene fluoride flat sheet membrane distillation in both co-current and counter-current arrangements at small and large scales, comparing the results to previously published research. Increasing the collector area from 2 m² to 8 m² in Ain Témouchent's weather conditions reduces the auxiliary heating rate by 14% in December and 44.27% in August. In the summer, solar fraction and solar collector efficiency are 71% and 63%, respectively. The current integrated system can collect approximately 54.28 l of water flux through the membrane per day, resulting in a membrane production rate of 13.57 kg/m².hr. The findings show that the use of modern co-simulation techniques is highly inventive, producing environmentally friendly water in a sustainable and efficient way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High salinity in the Shatt al-Arab River is becoming a serious issue for scientists and experts in the Basra Governorate, Iraq, and the local authorities are searching for solutions. This study aims to model and simulate the performance of the GARO2 desalination plant in the Garmatt-Ali region using Winflows 4.04 program. The high salinity of the Shatt al-Arab River elevated the salinity level of the water. The software was used to simulate the long-term operation of the GARO2 desalination plant. The results show a good agreement between the practical aspect and the modeling process, with the highest deviation being up to ± 10%. Furthermore, Genetic Programming and Genetic Algorithms were employed to develop and analyze the objective functions were associated with the most effective factors, such as the permeate flow rate, water flux, permeate water concentration, and salt rejection. The Genetic Algorithm was used to determine the optimal values of independent variables for each objective function. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of reverse osmosis desalination units used to treat brackish water from the Shatt al-Arab River in Southern Iraq, thereby enabling the development of more efficient water management options in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Geological Survey (USGS) is selecting and prioritizing basins, known as Integrated Water Science basins, for monitoring and intensive study. Previous efforts to aid in this selection process include a scientifically defensible and quantitative assessment of basins facing human-caused water resource challenges (Van Metre et al. in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192(7), 458 2020). In the present work, we explore this ranking process based on water quality considerations, specifically salinity and salinization. We selected top candidate basins to study salinity and salinization issues in 18 hydrologic regions that include 163 candidate basins. Our prioritization is based on quantitative assessment of sources of salinity, drivers of change, and receptors that must respond to those sources and drivers. Source terms represented in the prioritization include geology, depth to brackish groundwater, stream conductivity, chloride in precipitation, urban and agricultural land use, application of road salt as a deicer, and irrigation. Drivers represented in prioritization include changes in chemical weathering as a result of changes in rainwater chemistry. Receptors include measures of water stress, measurements of stream ecological health, and socioeconomic factors. In addition, we present research activities for the USGS on salinity and salinization that can be pursued in these basins including assessment of sources, pathways, and loadings; predicting and understanding changes in sources, peaks, and trends; understanding the components of salinity and mobilization of contaminants; understanding the relationship between salinization and changing ecosystems; and developing knowledge on the causes and distribution of groundwater salinity, brackish water resources, and challenges related to desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of extremely saline water such as the brine rejected from reverse osmosis water desalination plants, and produced water from shale oil and non-conventional gas extraction, is considered a global problem. Consequently, in this work, hollow fiber membrane distillation (HFMD) is experimentally evaluated for desalinating extremely saline water of a salinity ranging from 40,000 to 130,000 ppm. For the purpose of comparison, the HFMD is also tested for desalinating brackish (3000–12,000 ppm) and sea (25,000–40,000 ppm) water. Firstly, the HFMD is tested at two values of feed water temperature (65 and 76 °C) and flow rate (600 and 850 L/h). The experimental results showed that the HFMD productivity significantly increases when the temperature of feed water increases. Increasing the feed water flow rate also has a positive effect on the productivity of HFMD. It is also concluded that the productivity of the HFMD is not significantly affected by increasing the salt concentration when brackish and sea water are used. The productivity also slightly decreases with increasing the salt concentration when extremely saline water is used. The decrement in the productivity reaches 27%, when the salt concentration increases from 40,000 to 130,000 ppm. Based on the conducted economic analysis, the HFMD shows a good potential for desalinating extremely saline water especially when the solar collector is used as a heat source. In this case, the cost per liter of freshwater is reduced by 21.7–23.1% when the evacuated tube solar collectors are used compared to the system using electrical heaters. More reduction in the cost per liter of freshwater is expected when a high capacity solar-powered HFMD plant is installed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a cogeneration system for the simultaneous production of cooling and freshwater. A double-stage cascade compression cooling system consists of two interconnected vapor compression cycles. The proposed system integrates a double-stage cascade compression cooling system with a water desalination unit, which takes advantage of the heat released by the cascade system. The system performance was evaluated using various refrigerants selected based on their energy efficiency, environmental impact, and widespread use. Multiple combinations of the fluids were used in the high-temperature cycle (HTC) and low-temperature cycle (LTC) to analyze their impact on system performance. A parametric analysis was conducted by developing a mathematical model in MATLAB. The model's input parameters were the evaporation temperature and the temperature difference between the inlet and discharge of both compressors (ΔLTC and ΔHTC). System performance was assessed from a first-law point of view through the coefficient of performance (COP), the energy utilization factor (EUF), and the gain output ratio (GOR). The results revealed that the maximum (105 °C) and minimum (−13 °C) temperatures, essential for desalination and cooling, respectively, were achieved using R134a in the LTC and R123 in the HTC, with ΔLTC = 65 °C and ΔHTC = 70 °C. However, the best performance was observed with R123 in both cycles, with ΔLTC = 45 °C and ΔHTC = 70 °C. This configuration achieved a COP of 1.06, a GOR of 1.61, and an EUF of 2.74. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze-melting (F/M) desalination presents a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional desalination methods. In this study, we evaluated two solar-powered refrigeration systems, using BaCl2–NH3 and NH3–LiNO3 sorbent–refrigerant pairs, for seawater desalination and cooling applications. The NH3–LiNO3 system demonstrated a superior performance, achieving evaporator temperatures below −3 °C and producing up to 8 kg/day of ice. The system operated with a significantly lower energy consumption than the 3–6 kWh/m3 required by reverse osmosis (RO). Practical tests confirmed the dual functionality of the system, providing cooling for food preservation (maintaining 4 °C for 5 h) and climate control while producing desalinated water with total dissolved solids (TDS) levels of 3650 k/m3. Although the TDS remained above the WHO potable water standard, the output is suitable for irrigation and livestock watering. These results highlight the F/M desalination system's potential to address water scarcity and cooling needs in resource-limited, off-grid regions, contributing to sustainable desalination technologies powered by renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based composite materials (3D GBCMs) have emerged as promising candidates for addressing critical challenges in water pollution remediation. This review selectively highlights the recent advancements in the application of 3D GBCMs to remove a wide range of contaminants, including heavy metals, dyes, salts, and pharmaceutical residues, from water. They owe their efficacy to their large surface area, interconnected porous structure, and functionalization potential. Three-dimensional GBCMs are promising materials for water filtration, offering capabilities such as heavy metal ion adsorption, the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and advanced desalination techniques like capacitive deionization (CDI) and solar desalination, thus providing sustainable solutions for obtaining freshwater from saline sources. Additionally, the factors influencing the pollutant removal capacities of 3D GBCMs, such as their material morphology, particle size, and porosity, are briefly discussed. Notably, the effect of the particle size on pollutant removal has not been extensively studied, and this review addresses that gap by exploring it in detail. Future research directions are also proposed, emphasizing the optimization and broader application of 3D GBCMs in environmental remediation. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the design and practical implementation of 3D GBCMs, offering guidance for their continued development in sustainable water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread application of electrodialysis is constrained by the high cost of ion exchange membranes, necessitating the development of affordable alternatives. This study focuses on the fabrication and performance evaluation of cation exchange membranes made from polyethersulfone (PES) and sulfonated polyethersulfone (sPES). Membranes were synthesized through phase inversion with varying solvent evaporation times, using N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvent. The structural and functional modifications were confirmed using FTIR, XPS, and AFM techniques. Performance tests identified optimal electrodialysis results for PES membranes with a 3 h solvent evaporation time and for sPES membranes with a 1 h evaporation time. Under varying operational conditions, including applied voltage, flow rates, and feed solutions, sPES membranes demonstrated superior performance, underscoring their potential for cost-effective brackish water desalination applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, cost-efficient Nanophotonic Enhanced Solar Membrane Distillation (NESMD) system, a solar-driven water desalination technology, was studied. The system features a photothermal membrane acting as a solar collector for water distillation, thus eliminating the need for an external condenser. To address the system's vulnerability to thermal losses, a comprehensive mathematical model was developed and validated against real-world experimental data. This model represents intricately coupled heat and mass transfer within a sweeping-air NESMD system, incorporating heat loss considerations. The modeling strategy involved dividing the NESMD module into sub-cells and implementing a finite difference method for detailed analysis. This led to a series of nonlinear simultaneous equations, which were resolved via computational code using MATLAB software. The developed NESMD model exhibited commendable conformity to experimental data, exhibiting a relative percentage error of less than 10% for average permeate flux and identifying thermal losses as high as 63%. Depending on the operating conditions, heat transferred to the surroundings takes the lead among the heat loss contributors at higher feed rates (up to 25%), whereas heat conduction across the membrane dominates (up to 42%) thermal losses at low feed rates. The study established an exponential correlation between permeate production and solar energy, with a heat transfer coefficient ranging from 9.5 to 30 W m−2 K−1 and a coefficient of determination of 0.96. An integral part of this work includes calculating solar energy utilization and clarifying the system's performance. Furthermore, this study examines the influence of diverse operational and geometric parameters, providing insights into enhancing production rates. Hence, an increase in feed layer thickness enhances freshwater production by 7%. Due to the intensification of solar irradiance, freshwater production increased ninefold, and specific energy consumption decreased by 134 kW hr m−3. This research underscores the potential of NESMD for sustainable desalination, providing a validated model that lays the groundwork for future advancements in membrane distillation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes used in reverse osmosis (RO) desalination techniques often face fouling challenges. In this experimental study, the phase inversion method was employed to investigate the incorporation of graphene oxide nanoparticles (GONP) metal-organic frameworks (MOF), into the casting solution for composite CA-RO membranes. The effects of varying GONP concentrations on fouling resistance and hydrophilicity were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, and water content analysis. The results demonstrated that the modified CA membrane with 0.05 wt% GONP exhibited improved water permeability (10.3 L/[m.sup.2] h) and salt rejection (95.8%) compared with the pristine CA membrane. These improvements stem from increased hydrophilicity and reduced fouling. This study's findings suggest that incorporating GONP into the polymeric doped solution can effectively mitigate fouling issues and enhance the performance of RO membranes in desalination applications. Highlights * GONP enhances hydrophilicity, reducing fouling in desalination. * Effects of varying GONP concentrations were studied. * GONP-CA membrane shows better permeability and salt rejection than pristine. * Nanocomposite membranes promise in overcoming fouling in RO membranes. KEYWORDS fouling resistance, graphene oxide nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks, nanocomposite membranes, 1 | INTRODUCTION The physical properties of the membrane, such as its thickness and hydraulic permeability, as well as system factors such as transmembrane pressure, the length of the filtering [...]

Seawater desalination is essential for addressing global freshwater scarcity, but it faces challenges like energy consumption and membrane fouling. This study investigates the use of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to enhance the efficiency of the electrodialysis (ED) desalination process. An experimental setup was developed to evaluate the impact of PEF parameters, such as frequency and duty cycle, on the removal of major seawater ions (Na⁺, Mg2⁺, Ca2⁺, K⁺, Cl−, and SO₄2−). And the influence of varying frequencies (0.9 kHz to 2 kHz) on ion removal rates, total dissolved salts (TDS), conductivity, pH, and energy consumption was evaluated. The results demonstrate that higher frequencies (1.85–2 kHz) significantly improve the removal rates of sodium and sulfate ions, achieving up to 90% removal, respectively. TDS concentration was reduced from 50,000 ppm to as low as 1000 ppm, indicating the potential of PEF-enhanced ED for efficient desalination. The analysis reveals an inverse relationship between salt concentration and electrical resistance, highlighting the need to optimize PEF parameters to leverage conductivity changes. Stable pH values and reduced water hardness further confirm the water quality improvements achieved through the PEF-enhanced ED process. The application of (PEF) in the ED process resulted in up to a 30% reduction in energy consumption and an 80% decrease in (TDS) concentration, from the initial 50,000 ppm to as low as 9912.6 ppm under optimized operating conditions, demonstrating the significant efficiency improvements achieved through this approach. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of pulsed electric field conditions for enhanced seawater desalination, offering a promising approach to address the challenges associated with conventional desalination technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The theoretical separation performance and practical separation performance of various membranes were collected and compared. An up-to-date holistic and systematic evaluation of membranes from five dimensions (i.e., water permeance, water/NaCl selectivity, membrane cost, scale of development, and stability) is provided and visualized by radar charts. The critical deficiencies revealed in the review are important in guiding the development of next-generation reverse osmosis membranes. Membrane desalination is an economical and energy-efficient method to meet the current worldwide water scarcity. However, state-of-the-art reverse osmosis membranes are gradually being replaced by novel membrane materials as a result of ongoing technological advancements. These novel materials possess intrinsic pore structures or can be assembled to form lamellar membrane channels for selective transport of water or solutes (e.g., NaCl). Still, in real applications, the results fall below the theoretical predictions, and a few properties, including large-scale fabrication, mechanical strength, and chemical stability, also have an impact on the overall effectiveness of those materials. In view of this, we develop a new evaluation framework in the form of radar charts with five dimensions (i.e., water permeance, water/NaCl selectivity, membrane cost, scale of development, and stability) to assess the advantages, disadvantages, and potential of state-of-the-art and newly developed desalination membranes. In this framework, the reported thin film nanocomposite membranes and membranes developed from novel materials were compared with the state-of-the-art thin film composite membranes. This review will demonstrate the current advancements in novel membrane materials and bridge the gap between different desalination membranes. In this review, we also point out the prospects and challenges of next-generation membranes for desalination applications. We believe that this comprehensive framework may be used as a future reference for designing next-generation desalination membranes and will encourage further research and development in the field of membrane technology, leading to new insights and advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a series of cation exchange hydrogel resins via gamma irradiation technique through copolymerizing styrene sodium sulfonate with three acrylamide derivatives (designated as poly(X-co-styrene sodium sulfonate), where X refers to acrylamide (PAASS), methacrylamide (PMASS), and isopropyl acrylamide (PIASS)). The prepared hydrogel resins were characterized and tested for the adsorption removal of hard/scale metal cations (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, and Sr2+) from saline water under varying conditions. Results demonstrated that PMASS and PIASS displayed closed porous networks with a significant pH-responsive swelling behavior, increasing from 1.41 to 5.62 g/g in acidic conditions and approximately 41.49 to 45.83 g/g under neutral conditions swelling ratios, while PAASS exhibited an open porous network structure with the stable swelling ratio of around 35 g/g within mild and neutral pH ranges. All hydrogel resins also showed rapid initial adsorption of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Ba2+ > Sr2+, depending on ionic metal size, with adsorption equilibrium within 3–6 h. Maximum removal was achieved at neutral-basic pH when sulfonate groups were fully deprotonated with a total capacity of about ~ 147–175 mg/g overall mixed metal ions. When exposed to lower concentration solutions, about 87% of metal ions were effectively removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater desalination via the solar membrane distillation (SMD) technology is an effective way to solve the fresh water shortage, and it is very important to prepare a Janus membrane with excellent solar desalination properties to improve the water permeability. In this work, three typical hydrophobic carbon nanotubes/hydrophilic fly ash (CNTs/FA) Janus asymmetric membranes with different membrane support structures are prepared for SMD application by the conventional tape casting or phase inversion tape casting techniques. It is demonstrated that nitrogen permeability is significantly enhanced from (4.81 ± 0.17) × 105 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 for the tortuous CNTs/FA Janus membrane to (9.28 ± 0.10) × 106 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 for the hierarchically oriented CNTs/FA Janus membrane with open, straight pores by manipulating the microstructure of the FA membrane support. Moreover, the corresponding evaporation rate is strongly increased from 0.633 ± 0.010 to 1.669 ± 0.010 kg m-2 h-1, which is greatly ascribed to the accelerated water permeation in the hierarchically oriented FA membrane support with open, straight pores. Additionally Our findings proves that the SMD performance can be greatly improved by the microstructure manipulation of the membrane support, and guide the development of novel membranes for efficient solar desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen, produced by water electrolysis using renewable energy sources (RES), is an emerging technology that aligns with sustainable development goals and efforts to address climate change. In addition to energy, electrolyzers require ultrapure water to operate. Although seawater is abundant on the Earth, it must be desalinated and further purified to meet the electrolyzer's feeding water quality requirements. This paper reviews seawater purification processes for electrolysis. Three mature and commercially available desalination technologies (reverse osmosis, multiple-effect distillation, and multi-stage flash) were examined in terms of working principles, performance parameters, produced water quality, footprint, and capital and operating expenditures. Additionally, pretreatment and post-treatment techniques were explored, and the brine management methods were investigated. The findings of this study can help guide the selection and design of water treatment systems for electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present paper discusses the simulation of three desalination plants when linked to a nuclear power plant. The study assesses the various desalination techniques that can be employed in low carbon emissions power plants from a thermo-economic standpoint. Moreover, it draws a comparison between five different desalination systems including RO, MED, MSF, MED + RO and MSF + RO that are connected to a nuclear power plant. Via simulation, it became clear that using RO technology to produce fresh water is economically more advantageous than thermal methods. In addition, it is found that the overall water cost of various hybrid desalination technologies of MED + RO is significantly lower than those of MSF + RO desalination plants by 0.36 $/m3. The results show that supplying the desalination plant with warm water is more efficient than the direct use of sea water. The process of using warm water saves 0.01 $/m3 in case of using MED + RO and 0.02 $/m3 in case of using MSF + RO. Furthermore, the results show a significant reduction in CO 2 emissions by 0.771 kg/kWh when nuclear power plants are used in place of conventional power plants that use oil fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the application of biomass functional materials in addressing global environmental challenges such as water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution, solid waste management, and the energy crisis. Biomass functional materials, derived from plant, animal, or microbial sources, offer renewability, low toxicity, and diverse functions for environmental applications. These materials are utilized in water treatment, air purification, solid waste management, and energy conversion, showing promising potential in sustainable environmental management. The research emphasizes the importance of biomass functional materials in addressing environmental issues and promoting sustainable development. [Extracted from the article]

The document "Advances in Renewable Energy Research and Applications" published in Energies highlights the importance of renewable energy in addressing growing electricity demand and environmental sustainability. It discusses the economic, technological, and policy-related challenges associated with renewable energy sources like solar, wind, tidal, and hydrogen. The document emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in optimizing renewable energy systems and presents key contributions in economic considerations, technological innovations, and policy insights. It also identifies gaps in research, such as scalability of hybrid systems and integration of underrepresented energy sources, calling for further exploration in these areas to advance renewable energy technologies. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] The scarcity of freshwater resources and increasing demand for drinking water have driven the development of durable and sustainable desalination technologies. Although MXene composites have shown promise due to their excellent photothermal conversion and high thermal conductivity, their high hydrophilicity often leads to salt precipitation and low durability. In this study, we present a novel Cellulose (CF)/MXene paper with a Janus hydrophobic/hydrophilic configuration for long-term and efficient solar-driven desalination. The paper features a dual-layer structure, with the upper hydrophobic layer composed of CF/MXene paper exhibiting convexness to serve as a photothermal layer with exceptional salt rejection properties. Simultaneously, the bottom porous layer made of CF acts as an efficient thermal insulation. This unique design effectively minimizes heat loss and facilitates efficient water transportation. The Janus CF/MXene paper demonstrates a high evaporation rate of 1.11 kg m−2h−1 and solar thermal conversion efficiency of 82.52 % under 1 sun irradiation. Importantly, even after 2500 h of operation in a simulated seawater environment, the paper maintains a stable evaporation rate without significant salt deposition and biodegradation due to an antibacterial rate exceeding 90 %. These findings highlight the potential of the Janus CF/MXene paper for scalable manufacturing and practical applications in solar-driven desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant advancement in conventional desalination technologies, their widespread application is still constrained by high energy demands, high capital costs, and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential and challenges of renewable energy desalination in the Middle East. The study also compared the production of energy and water, and emissions reductions of hypothetical 100 MW renewable energy plants in Kuwait, coupled with reverse osmosis (RO) desalination units. The wind-RO plant is estimated to produce 68 million cubic metres on an annual basis, while the CSP-RO and PV-RO plants produced 44 and 37 million cubic metres of fresh water, respectively. These estimates, however, only account for 5% to 9% of the annual fresh water demand in the reference case. Meeting 100% of the fresh water demand would require a 1000 MW to 2000 MW renewable energy capacity. Overall, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources is a fundamental barrier to the large-scale transition to renewable energies for desalination. The results of this study indicate that the CSP's relatively small footprint (compared to wind plants) and higher capacity factor make it an ideal compromise among the proposed plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater scarcity, intensified by global population growth and climate change, poses a significant challenge to sustainable development by increasing the demand for clean water. Advancements in water purification technologies are therefore essential. Reverse-osmosis systems are widely used for drinking water purification, but their core component, the reverse-osmosis membrane, is prone to contamination. This contamination reduces system efficiency and shortens membrane lifespan, creating operational challenges. This study introduces a smart wastewater valve designed to optimize the cleaning cycles of reverse-osmosis membranes, enhancing both system performance and sustainability. The valve integrates a total dissolved solid sensor and a microcontroller, enabling real-time cleaning strategies based on wastewater solid levels and the duration of purification cycles. Testing on a water purification system demonstrates that the smart valve increases desalination rates, reduces membrane fouling, and extends membrane lifespan by approximately 33%. As a result, it significantly reduces water waste while maintaining high water quality, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. These findings contribute to the advancement of efficient water purification technologies, addressing critical economic and environmental challenges associated with water resource management. By enhancing the sustainability and performance of reverse-osmosis systems, the smart wastewater valve presents a viable approach to mitigating freshwater scarcity and supporting sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of global warming are severely recognizable and, according to the OECD, 47% of the world's population will soon live in regions with insufficient drinking water. Already, many countries depend on desalination for fresh water supply, but such facilities are often powered by fossil fuels. This paper presents an energy self-sufficient desalination system that runs entirely on solar power. Sunlight is harvested using parabolic trough collectors with an effective aperture area of 1.5 m × 0.98 m and a theoretical concentration ratio of 150 suns, in which a concentrator photovoltaic thermal (CPV-T) hybrid-absorber converts the radiation to electricity and heat. This co-generated energy runs a multi-effect distillation (MED) plant, whereby the waste heat of multi-junction concentrator solar cells is used in the desalination process. This concept also takes advantage of synergy effects of optical elements (i.e., mirrors), resulting in a cost reduction of solar co-generation compared to the state of the art, while at the same time increasing the overall efficiency to ~75% (consisting of an electrical efficiency of 26.8% with a concurrent thermal efficiency of 48.8%). Key components such as the parabolic trough hybrid absorber were built and characterized by real-world tests. Finally, results of system simulations, including fresh water output depending on different weather conditions, degree of autonomy, required energy storage for off-grid operation etc. are presented. Simulation results revealed that it is possible to desalinate around 2,000,000 L of seawater per year with a 260 m2 plant and 75 m3 of thermal storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, reverse osmosis and forward osmosis membranes were prepared using base cellulosic polymers with ZrO2. The prepared membranes were rolled on the spiral-wound configuration module. The modules were tested on a pilot unit to investigate the efficiency of the RO membrane and the hydraulic pressure effect on both sides of the FO membranes. The RO membrane provided a rejection of 99% for the seawater desalination, and the brine was used as a draw solution for the FO system. First, seawater was used as a draw solution to indicate the best hydraulic pressure, where the best one was 3 bar for the draw solution side, and 2 bar for the feed side, where the water flux reached 48.89 L/m2·h (LMH) with a dilution percentage of 80% and a low salt reverse flux of 0.128 g/m2·h (gMH) after 5 h of operation time. The integrated system of RO and forward-assisted osmosis (PAO) was investigated using river water as a feed and RO brine as a draw solute, where the results of PAO indicate a high-water flux of 68.6 LMH with a dilution of 93.2% and a salt reverse flux of 0.18 gMH. Therefore, using PAO improves the performance of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of fresh water and the challenges associated with saltwater desalination have highlighted the importance of solar desalination systems for fresh water production, attracting the interest of various industries and researchers. Despite the global production of approximately 22 million cubic meters of fresh water daily, less than 1% is generated using solar energy. Conventional methods, such as desalination and reverse osmosis, are energy-intensive and heavily reliant on fossil fuels. In contrast, solar desalination offers a cost-effective and sustainable alternative that reduces dependency on fossil fuels while conserving energy resources. This study numerically evaluates the absorber plate of a single-slope solar desalination system across eleven distinct geometries under identical conditions. The objective is to identify the optimal design for the absorber plate in solar desalination systems. Results indicate that geometry (C) achieves the highest performance, with the absorber plate reaching 349 Kelvin under a solar radiation intensity of 750 watts per square meter, producing the most distilled water among the evaluated geometries. Geometry (B) demonstrates the second-best performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The developed methodology enables the rapid fabrication of customized lab-scale reactors, optimizing their design and manufacturing. Beyond desalination, this approach is valuable in the early R&D stages for other electrochemical flow reactors, such as fuel cells, bio-batteries, microfluidic devices, and electrolyzers. In response to the growing demand for potable water, this study presents a practical methodology for designing and fabricating a hybrid desalination system that integrates reverse electrodialysis and electrodialysis using 3D-printing technology. The hybrid system combines the energy generation potential of RED with the salt removal capabilities of ED, reducing energy consumption. Customized reactors were designed to enhance flow distribution and ion exchange, with computational fluid dynamics simulations validating the hydrodynamic performance. The reactors were fabricated using 3D printing, allowing rapid, cost-effective production, with functional reactors constructed in under 24 h. The system achieved a 15% reduction in salt concentration within one hour, with a specific energy consumption of 0.1388 Wh/m3 and a water recovery rate of 50%. These results demonstrate the functionality of the RED-ED hybrid system for achieving energy savings and performing water desalination. This methodology provides a scalable and replicable solution for water treatment applications, especially in regions with abundant salinity gradients and limited freshwater resources, while offering a multidisciplinary approach that integrates physicochemical and engineering principles for effective device development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel method is presented for enhancing the thermal desalination process of saline water and seawater using atmospheric pressure plasma (APP). The effect of APP treatment combined with thermal heating (APP-TH) on the energy consumption, conductivity, and pH of seawater and saline water is investigated. Utilizing scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry, the evolution of the morphology, structure, and chemical composition of precipitated crystals is characterized. The APP-TH method reduces the energy consumption for desalination by 40.5% for saline water and by 52.82% for seawater when compared to the TH-only method. The pH value remains approximately unchanged, decreasing slightly for the saline water from 7.1 for untreated saline water to 7.05 after APP-TH treatment. However, after APP-TH treatment, the pH value of the seawater increased slightly, from 7 to 7.8. The total dissolved salts decreased after APP-TH treatment, lowering the conductivity of the saline water from 65,000 µS/cm to 160 µS/cm and the conductivity of the seawater from 58,200 µS/cm to 243 µS/cm. Moreover, the size of precipitated crystals from saline water is 31.47 nm after APP-TH treatment, compared to 55.59 nm after TH-only treatment. They also dropped from 41 nm to 39.5 nm for seawater. Compared with traditional approaches, this research proposes an optimistic solution to address global potable water scarcity issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater salinization, exacerbated by natural and anthropogenic factors, poses a significant threat to agricultural production and ecosystems, particularly in coastal areas in China. The accumulation of trace contaminants in saline-alkaline water, such as antibiotics and heavy metals, further compounds the issue, impacting human health and the environment. The article highlights Electrodialysis (ED) technology and nano-activated carbon (NAC) as promising solutions for desalinating saline-alkaline water and removing trace pollutants, offering a sustainable and efficient approach to water treatment. The ED-NAC coupling process shows potential in addressing the challenges of saline-alkaline water treatment, enhancing efficiency, and reducing environmental impacts, with a focus on sustainable resource utilization and technological innovation. [Extracted from the article]

Seawater desalination is one of the most widely used technologies for freshwater production; however, its high energy consumption remains a pressing global challenge. Both the development and utilization of sustainable energy sources are anticipated to mitigate the energy shortages associated with seawater desalination while also effectively addressing the environmental issues linked to fossil fuel usage. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the classification and evolution of traditional desalination technologies, emphasizing the advancements, progress, and challenges associated with integrating various sustainable energy sources into the desalination process. Then, the cost, efficiency, and energy consumption of desalination systems driven by sustainable energy are discussed, and it is found that even the most widely used reverse osmosis (RO) technology driven by fossil fuels has CO2 emissions of 0.3–1.7 kgCO2/m3 and the lowest cost of desalinated water as high as 0.01 USD/m3, suggesting the necessity and urgency of applying sustainable energy. A comparison of different seawater desalination systems driven by different sustainable energy sources is also carried out. The results reveal that although the seawater desalination system driven by sustainable energy has a lower efficiency and a higher cost than the traditional system, it has more potential from the perspective of environmental protection and sustainable development. Furthermore, the efficiency and cost of desalination technology driven by a single sustainable energy source is lower than that driven by multi-sustainable energy sources, while the efficiency of desalination systems driven by multi-sustainable energy is lower than that driven by hybrid energy, and its cost is higher than that of desalination systems driven by hybrid energy. Considering factors such as cost, efficiency, consumption, economic scale, and environmental impact, the integration of various seawater desalination technologies and various energy sources is still the most effective strategy to solve water shortage, the energy crisis, and environmental pollution at present and in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing diverse parameters like water quality, quantity, and occurrence of hydrological extremes and their management is crucial to perform efficient water resource management (WRM). A successful WRM strategy requires a three-pronged approach: monitoring historical data, predicting future trends, and taking controlling measures to manage risks and ensure sustainability. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques leverage these diverse knowledge fields to a single theme. This review article focuses on the potential of AI in two specific management areas: water supply-side and demand-side measures. It includes the investigation of diverse AI applications in leak detection and infrastructure maintenance, demand forecasting and water supply optimization, water treatment and water desalination, water quality monitoring and pollution control, parameter calibration and optimization applications, flood and drought predictions, and decision support systems. Finally, an overview of the selection of the appropriate AI techniques is suggested. The nature of AI adoption in WRM investigated using the Gartner hype cycle curve indicated that the learning application has advanced to different stages of maturity, and big data future application has to reach the plateau of productivity. This review also delineates future potential pathways to expedite the integration of AI-driven solutions and harness their transformative capabilities for the protection of global water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has been developed quickly for low‐cost and sustainable seawater desalination, but addressing the conflict between a high evaporation rate and salt rejection during SDIE is still challenging. Here, a spatial confinement strategy is proposed to prepare the gel composite solar evaporator (SCE) by loading one thin hydrogel layer onto the skeleton of a carbon aerogel. The SCE retains the hierarchically porous structure of carbon aerogels with an optimized water supply induced by dual‐driven forces (capillary effects and osmotic pressure) and takes advantage of both aerogels and hydrogels, which can gain energy from air and reduce water enthalpy. The SCE has a high evaporation rate (up to 4.23 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun) and excellent salt rejection performance and can maintain structural integrity after long‐term evaporation even at high salinities. The SDIE behavior, including heat distribution, water transport, and salt ion distribution, is investigated by combining theoretical simulations and experimental results. This work provides new inspiration and a theoretical basis for the development of high‐performance interfacial evaporators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Detection of bacterial species using 16S rRNA is a popular approach in microbiology. This method focuses on 16S rRNA gene which includes both conserved regions shared among bacterial species and variable regions unique to each species. This study aimed for the first time to apply this technique for identifying and classifying the bacterial species which contribute to the formation of anodic biofilm in a tubular photosynthetic microbial desalination cell (PMDC). Methods: A tubular photosynthesis microbial desalination cell was designed and set up for simultaneous wastewater biotreatment and desalination of seawater associated with clean power generation.16S rRNA sequencing was used for characterization of the dominant microbial strains in the anodic biofilm. The materials involve DNA extracting from bacteria and PCR amplifying for 16S rRNA gene. The kinetic of the bacterial growth in relation to the substrate utilization was studied. Results: The results revealed the identification of 19 new dominant microbial strains; 13 in the initial shallow biofilm and 6 in the developed biofilm. Results of evaluating the PMDC performance demonstrated that maximum removal efficiency of organic content from sewage was 93±3% associated with power generation of 24.3±2.5 mW/m³ and 70±4% desalination efficiency of saline water. Results of the kinetic study of biomass growth demonstrated that among the 5 examined models, Monod and Blackman models significantly fitted the experimental data with determination coefficients (R²) of 0.951 and 0.907, respectively. Conclusion: This study adds to our knowledge of the anode biofilm's involvement in PMDC performance by identifying dominant microbial strains using 16S rRNA sequencing. The findings emphasize microbial contributions to simultaneous treatment of wastewater, desalination of sea water, and electricity generation. This experimental and theoretical investigation paves the way for future breakthroughs in microbial desalination technology, addressing crucial water scarcity issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the inherent demand for hydrophobic materials in processes such as membrane distillation and unidirectional moisture conduction, the preparation and application development of profiles such as modified cellulose acetate membranes that have both hydrophobic functions and biological properties have become a research hotspot. Compared with the petrochemical polymer materials used in conventional hydrophobic membrane preparation, cellulose acetate, as the most important cellulose derivative, exhibits many advantages, such as a high natural abundance, good film forming, and easy modification and biodegradability, and it is a promising polymer raw material for environmental purification. This paper focuses on the research progress of the hydrophobic cellulose acetate preparation process and its current application in the water-treatment and resource-utilization fields. It provides a detailed introduction and comparison of the technical characteristics, existing problems, and development trends of micro- and nanostructure and chemical functional surface construction in the hydrophobic modification of cellulose acetate. Further review was conducted and elaborated on the applications of hydrophobic cellulose acetate membranes and other profiles in oil–water separation, brine desalination, water-repellent protective materials, and other separation/filtration fields. Based on the analysis of the technological and performance advantages of profile products such as hydrophobic cellulose acetate membranes, it is noted that key issues need to be addressed and urgently resolved for the further development of hydrophobic cellulose acetate membranes. This will provide a reference basis for the expansion and application of high-performance cellulose acetate membrane products in the environmental field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main obstacles to reverse osmosis desalination processes are high energy intensity and long-term continuity. Temperature and pressure have the greatest and most significant effects on energy use. The main objectives of the current study are to determine the pressure and temperature-dependent optimal operating parameters for a membrane desalination unit. To determine the ideal operating settings for a membrane unit, the impact of changing pressure and temperature on its performance was investigated. These two elements are closely connected to the energy consumption per cubic meter under various operating situations. The present work is experimentally carried out in a research laboratory for capacity building and future research studies in the desalination field established in the National Center of Water Research – Egypt. This laboratory is Egypt's first multi-functional Desalination Research Station for seawater, brackish water, and related water treatment areas. The plant is equipped with online instrumentation and Data Acquisition System and 13 sensors for most physical parameters which economically affect membrane performance and desalination processes. These parameters, particularly pressure and temperature, are measured, evaluated and analyzed. According to the findings in this study, feed salinity and feed pressure both have significant impacts. At 13 bar pressure, the maximum salt rejection was 98.8%. When feed pressure is increased from 5 to 13 bars, there is a 73.3% decrease in permeate salinity. Additionally, applying a 13 bar feed pressure to water with a salinity of 1000 ppm results in the best water quality of 12 ppm. The relationship between feed pressure, brine salinity, and membrane water recovery appeared to be approximately linear and positive. More crucially, it was discovered that feed pressure, salinity, and water recovery are all constants for water permeability. A prototype for the maximum pressure (ranges from 15.6 to 10.8) and temperature (ranges from 21 to 35) at which the optimal recovery of the laboratory occurred was developed. Moreover, the developed prototype includes the corresponding permeate TDS and a specific energy for each optimal point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the escalating issue of water scarcity, the United Nations has allocated Sustainable Development Goal 6 of 'Clean Water and Sanitation' to address the issue by providing clean water and improved sanitation. Solar stills are an attractive solution to water scarcity as they are simple, cost-effective, and convenient for communities with limited resources. However, they have shortcomings, such as limited production and nocturnal ineffectiveness. The present study proposes several alternatives to address these issues using the conceptual design technique. The customer requirements were met using the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method targeted during the design stage. An integrated AHP-TOPSIS was used to evaluate the design of alternatives considering seven criteria. This proposed method includes many factors, including system efficiency, cost, and ease of operation and maintenance. The three alternatives combine solar stills with adsorption desalination units. Two weighting methods were used, consistency-based ranking index for decision making (CRITIC) and Entropy, to evaluate the results' reliability. The findings showed that the most favorable alternative with CRITIC value of 0.975 and entropy of 0.988, combines a pyramid solar still and an evacuated tube solar collector. The purpose of this investigation is to build on the body of knowledge of solar desalination and support decision-makers in the evaluation process of selecting an appropriate solar still system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the rising global reliance on fossil fuels, freshwater scarcity and environmental problems are getting worse. The process of regasifying liquified natural gas (LNG) releases cold energy, which is often wasted, causes issues for the environment, and increases energy system inefficiencies. This project aims to enhance the sustainability of LNG regasification plants by effectively harnessing this cold energy. The research proposes using this cold energy in four main areas: seawater desalination, hydrogen production, power generation, and carbon dioxide liquefaction. The study explores creating a process that combines Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) with carbon capture and solar-powered water electrolysis, using the organic Rankine cycle for energy recovery and implementing a hybrid desalination process. The majority (82.9 %) of the input liquefied natural gas (LNG) is directed to the natural gas distribution pipeline, the primary function of the regasification facility. For every twelve kilograms of LNG processed, approximately one kilogram of valuable hydrogen is produced. While this hydrogen stream may appear insignificant relative to the complexity of the proposed process from an environmental perspective, it is crucial to acknowledge the low molecular weight of hydrogen. This characteristic implies that a captured and liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) stream, roughly half the weight of the input LNG, is also collected. This approach enhances environmental sustainability by collecting captured CO2 and energy efficiency, laying the groundwork for future advances in LNG cold energy usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desalination brine can negatively impact the marine environment in several ways, although there are ongoing discussions regarding the severity and magnitude of environmental effects. A fascinating strategy to lessen any adverse effects is to undertake resource recovery from the brine, which also has the potential for additional revenue generation. More recently, the increasing demand for secure and less geographically restricted sources of precious or rare earth minerals, integrated with growing awareness of waste management and environmental sustainability, is driving the development of economically viable technologies to recover valuable materials from waste streams. This article provides an overview of different methods and technologies, including reverse osmosis (RO), electrodialysis (ED), and distillation, that can be used to recover precious materials, including Li, Mg, Na, and Rb and valuable blends from various waste sources and thus create a more sustainable and circular economy. The mechanisms are discussed in detail, including electrochemical processes (electrolysis, ED, and capacitive deionization), thermal desalination (multistage flash distillation and membrane distillation), pressure‐driven desalination (RO and nanofiltration), and microbial desalination cells. Challenges associated with recovering precious materials from waste streams, such as fouling, scaling, and environmental impact, along with further research directions and potential applications of desalination technologies, are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial solar-driven evaporation technology shows great potential in the field of industrial seawater desalination, and the development of efficient and low-cost evaporation materials is key to achieving large-scale applications. Hydrogels are considered to be promising candidates; however, conventional hydrogel-based interfacial solar evaporators have difficulty in simultaneously meeting multiple requirements, including a high evaporation rate, salt resistance, and good mechanical properties. In this study, a Janus sponge-like hydrogel solar evaporator (CPAS) with excellent comprehensive performance was successfully constructed. The introduction of biomass agar (AG) into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel backbone reduced the enthalpy of water evaporation, optimized the pore structure, and improved the mechanical properties. Meanwhile, by introducing hydrophobic fumed nano-silica aerogel (SA) and a synergistic foaming-crosslinking process, the hydrogel spontaneously formed a Janus structure with a hydrophobic surface and hydrophilic bottom properties. Based on the reduction of the evaporation enthalpy and the modulation of the pore structure, the CPAS evaporation rate reached 3.56 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun illumination. Most importantly, owing to the hydrophobic top surface and 3D-interconnected porous channels, the evaporator could work stably in high concentrations of salt-water (25 wt% NaCl), showing strong salt resistance. Efficient water evaporation, excellent salt resistance, scalable preparation processes, and low-cost raw materials make CPAS extremely promising for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting the appropriate desalination and renewable energy technologies is crucial for the success of desalination projects, as each technology offers distinct advantages and disadvantages tailored to specific project requirements. This research investigates the application of both the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic techniques to develop four decision-making models: two for selecting the optimal desalination technology and two for selecting the optimal renewable energy technology in coastal communities. For desalination technology selection, the analytic hierarchy process model is structured into four hierarchical levels: the main goal, criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. The criteria level encompasses four groups, while the sub-criteria level comprises 26 factors. The alternatives considered are reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and multi-stage flash. In parallel, the analytic hierarchy process model for renewable energy technology selection is similarly structured, with four criteria groups and 24 sub-criteria factors. The alternatives evaluated include photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and wind energy. Additionally, fuzzy logic models are developed for both desalination and renewable energy technology selection. These models enhance the decision-making framework by incorporating the uncertainty and vagueness that are inherent in real-world scenarios. The integration of analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic methodologies provide a robust approach to identifying optimal technologies, thereby supporting sustainable development in Egypt's water–energy nexus. The research outcomes highlight the effectiveness of integrating analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic in decision-making processes, offering decision-makers systematic and reliable approaches for selecting the most suitable technologies to achieve sustainability in water–energy nexus projects. The results of the research indicate that the best alternative for desalination was reverse osmosis, and for renewable energy was photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in demand for water has caused attention to non-traditional methods for water supply in many places. Solar still is a simple, economical and suitable technology for providing drinking water from salt water that can be used even in remote areas. The challenge facing these technologies is to increase their performance, which is possible through three ways: environmental, design and operational parameters. This research has investigated the potential and location of Iran for the installation of solar still using environmental parameters. The three parameters of ambient temperature, solar radiation intensity and wind velocity are the most important environmental parameters affecting the performance of solar still; hence, they were used to investigate the potential of Iran to install solar still. The long-term information of the desired environmental parameters was prepared using field and telemetry methods; then, by averaging each parameter in ArcGIS software, a map was prepared for the ease of analysis and review. The results show that Iran has a high potential for using solar still in terms of environmental conditions affecting the performance of solar still and having brackish water resources and the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, Hormozgan, Fars, Kerman and Bushehr are the most favorable places in the country. Iran has been investigated for the installation of solar still based on three parameters. Also, the results show that the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan (2196 kWh/m2), Fars (2148 kWh/m2), Hormozgan (2136 kWh/m2), Kerman (2116 kWh/m2), and Kohkiloyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (2098 kWh/m2), are the regions with highest potentials for installation of solar based water desalination systems in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar desalination is a promising solution for alleviating water scarcity due to its low‐cost, environmentally friendly, and off‐grid capabilities. However, simultaneous salt rejection and heat localization remain challenging, as the rapid salt convection often results in considerable heat loss. Herein, this challenge is overcome via a facile design: i) isolating high‐temperature and high‐salt zones by rationally designing morning glory‐shaped wick structures and ii) bridging high‐salt zones and bulk water with low‐tortuosity macrochannels across low‐temperature surfaces. The salinity gradient in the macrochannels passively triggers convective flow, facilitating the rapid transfer of salt ions from the high‐salt zone to the bulk water. Meanwhile, the macrochannels are spatially isolated from the high‐temperature zone, preventing heat loss during salt convection and thereby achieving a high evaporation rate (≈3 kg m−2 h−1) and superior salt rejection even in highly concentrated real seawater. This work provides new insights into salt rejection strategies and advances practical applications for sustainable seawater desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]