Techno-economic assessment and feasibility study of a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination hybrid system in the Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

The environmental consequences of brine disposal (i.e., marine pollution, soil salinization, and groundwater contamination) are a concern for desalination plants across the world. This techno-economic assessment and feasibility study explores for the first time both the performance and the feasibility of a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination hybrid system for brine treatment and valorization in Eastern Mediterranean countries, namely, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. The results revealed that the recovery rate (99.19%) is exceptional, while the energy demands are 20.23 kWh/m3, which is reasonable as three different desalination processes (namely, high-pressure reverse osmosis (HPRO), brine concentrator (BC), and brine crystallizer (BCr)) are integrated into the ZLD system. The ZLD system is at least 3.22 times less costly than evaporation ponds, and it is on par with deep-well injection and land application alternatives in terms of cost. Furthermore, the ZLD system is lucrative whether it markets only water or both water and solid salt. The profit gain from desalinated water sales ranges from US$196.36/day to US$285.63/day, with Cyprus and Greece having the highest and lowest profit gain, respectively. In respect of both desalinated water and salt sales, the profit gain increases by 7% for each location.