Hybrid desalination processes for beneficial use of reverse osmosis brine: Current status and future prospects

Towards sustainable circular brine reclamation using seawater reverse osmosis, membrane distillation and forward osmosis hybrids: An experimental investigation

Chapter 11 - High-Salinity Pressure Retarded Osmosis Using Seawater Reverse Osmosis Brine

Chapter 11 - Fundamentals of Pressure Retarded Osmosis

Comparison of fouling characteristics between reverse electrodialysis (RED) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO)

Rubidium extraction from seawater brine by an integrated membrane distillation-selective sorption system

Valuable rubidium extraction from potassium reduced seawater brine

Efficient lithium recovery from simulated brine using a hybrid system: Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX)

Experimental comparison of submerged membrane distillation configurations for concentrated brine treatment

Evaluation of enhanced nanofiltration membranes for improving magnesium recovery schemes from seawater/brine: Integrating experimental performing data with a techno-economic assessment

The integration of desalination plants and mineral production

Toward scale-up of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) – pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) hybrid system: A case study of a 240 m3/day pilot plant

Ion-exchange membrane electrodialytic salt production using brine discharged from a reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant

Limiting power density in pressure-retarded osmosis: Observation and implications

Before investing in any optimizing technology for the recovery and reuse of brine resources, it is of importance to study the full physicochemical characteristics of the brine. In the current study, the physicochemical characteristics of Qatari seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine were fully investigated. The current study intends to lead to a better understanding of the nature of SWRO brine given the economic significance for the country that can be benefited from recycling and reusing various components. The characterization includes physical and chemical composition, as well as mineralogical and morphological investigation. The chemical analysis revealed that the seawater reverse osmosis brine contains various valuable elements and metals such as Ca (77120 mg/L), Na (343500 mg/L), Li (238800 mg/L), Ba (3.3 mg/L), Cs (3.4 mg/L), Fe (30.5 mg/L) and Mg (238800 mg/L). The pH of the brine was 8, while the electrical conductivity and salinity were 90.56 mS/cm and 61.4 ppt, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive and energy-dispersive X-ray revealed the placement of various valuable metals on the salt surface. X-ray diffraction showed eight XRD peaks. Interestingly, one peak at 2θ of 31.7° is significantly more intense than the other seven peaks obtained, while all the eight peaks are extremely narrow. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of the brine sample showed the presence of various functional groups. The narrow and intense peak around 1408 cm−1 confirms the presence of the SO bond in the brine sample, which could correspond to the presence of sulfonyl chlorides or sulfates as indicated by the ICP-OES results. Furthermore, a comparison between the energy requirements for the widely used seawater desalination technologies was presented. Additionally, this study showed the economical and environmental advantages and potential for recovering valuable metals from seawater reverse osmosis brines.

Salinity gradient energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising renewable source to decarbonize desalination. This work surveys the potential reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions gained from RED integration in 20 medium-to-large-sized seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants spread worldwide. Using the validated RED system’s model from our research group, we quantified the grid mix share of the SWRO plant’s total energy demand and total emissions RED would abate (i) in its current state of development and (ii) if captured all salinity gradient exergy (SGE). Results indicate that more saline and warmer SWRO brines enhance RED’s net power density, yet source availability may restrain specific energy supply. If all SGE were harnessed, RED could supply ~40% of total desalination plants’ energy demand almost in all locations, yet energy conversion irreversibility and untapped SGE decline it to ~10%. RED integration in the most emission-intensive SWRO plants could relieve up to 1.95 kg CO2-eq m−3. Findings reveal that RED energy recovery from SWRO concentrate effluents could bring desalination sector sizeable energy and emissions savings provided future advancements bring RED technology closer to its thermodynamic limit.