Desalination Research and Development in Saudi Arabia: Experience of the Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology at King Abdulaziz University

Abstract

Membrane technology is growing very fast and it is used in several main applications from desalination, water and wastewater treatment to medical, biotechnology and gas separation field. Different membrane processes are applied depending on the applications from more traditional pressure-driven membrane processes (Microfiltration, MF; Ultrafiltration, UF; Nanofiltration, NF) to more advanced ones as Membrane contactors (Membrane Distillation, MD; Membrane Dryers; Membrane Emulsifiers) and membrane processes integrated with renewable sources. In this contest, the development of innovative materials, as nanocomposite membranes as well as the study of innovative membrane processes, as MD, are part of the latest scientific research most of the universities and research centers are focusing their efforts on. These topics are also part of main research activities of Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology (CEDT) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and there will be described in details in next sections. CEDT is also involved in membrane processes and applications, renewable energy desalination, as well as computational modeling and simulation of membrane processes.