Desalination Methods Research Articles

Honeycomb-like Microthermal Traps on a Photothermal Surface for Highly Efficient Solar Evaporation.

Solar evaporation is an ecofriendly and practical method for seawater desalination. The photothermal layer, which absorbs solar energy and converts it to thermal energy, plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency of the evaporator. However, structural design methods for photothermal layers are often complex and energy-intensive. This work reports a simple and efficient strategy for fabricating a necklace-like beaded nanofiber self-organized honeycomb-structured photothermal material. The honeycomb-like cavities form numerous microscale thermal traps, achieving thermal localization while maintaining high energy utilization efficiency, which not only increases light absorption but also facilitates the diffusion and escape of steam. Besides, the hydrophobic honeycomb layer separates the photothermal layer and the interface water, which reduces considerable heat conduction loss and achieves an effective antisalting performance. These functional features endow the evaporator with an evaporation efficiency of 92.9%, and the evaporation rate reaches 2.11 kg m-2 h-1 at 1 sun irradiance, demonstrating its great potential for practical solar-driven seawater desalination under natural sunlight.

Low-Energy Desalination Techniques, Development of Capacitive Deionization Systems, and Utilization of Activated Carbon

Water desalination technology has emerged as a critical area of research, particularly with the advent of more cost-effective alternatives to conventional methods, such as reverse osmosis and thermal evaporation. Given the vital importance of water for life and the scarcity of potable water for agriculture and livestock—especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—the capacitive deionization (CDI) method for removing salt from water has been highlighted as the most economical choice compared to other techniques. CDI applies a voltage difference across two porous electrodes to extract salt ions from saline water. This study will investigate water desalination using CDI, utilizing a compact DC power source under 5 volts and a standard current of 2 amperes. We will convert waste materials like sunflower seeds, peanut shells, and rice husks into activated carbon through carbonization and chemical activation to improve its pore structure. Critical parameters for desalination, including voltage, flow rate, and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, have been established. The initial TDS levels are set at 2000, 1500, 1000, and 500 ppm, with flow rates of 38.2, 16.8, and 9.5 mL/min across the different voltage settings of 2.5, 2, and 1.5 volts, applicable to both direct and inverse desalination methods. The efficiency at TDS concentrations of 2000, 1500, and 1000 ppm remains between 18% and 20% for up to 8 min. Our results indicate that the desalination process operates effectively at a TDS level of 750 ppm, achieving a maximum efficiency of 45% at a flow rate of 9.5 mL/min. At voltages of 2.5 V, 2 V, and 1.5 V, efficiencies at 3 min are attained with a constant flow rate of 9.5 mL/min and a TDS of 500 ppm, with the maximum desalination efficiency reaching 56%.

Utilising Artificial Intelligence to Predict Membrane Behaviour in Water Purification and Desalination

Water scarcity is a critical global issue, necessitating efficient water purification and desalination methods. Membrane separation methods are environmentally friendly and consume less energy, making them more economical compared to other desalination and purification methods. This survey explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict membrane behaviour in water purification and desalination processes. Various AI platforms, including machine learning (ML) and artificial neural networks (ANNs), were utilised to model water flux, predict fouling behaviour, simulate micropollutant dynamics and optimise operational parameters. Specifically, models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and support vector machines (SVMs) have demonstrated superior predictive capabilities in these applications. This review studies recent advancements, emphasising the superior predictive capabilities of AI models compared to traditional methods. Key findings include the development of AI models for various membrane separation techniques and the integration of AI concepts such as ML and ANNs to simulate membrane fouling, water flux and micropollutant behaviour, aiming to enhance wastewater treatment and optimise treatment and desalination processes. In conclusion, this review summarised the applications of AI in predicting the behaviour of membranes as well as their strengths, weaknesses and future directions of AI in membranes for water purification and desalination processes.

Modeling of bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient in fluidized adsorption bed by gene expression programming approach

Adsorption cooling and desalination methods with adsorption chillers (AC) are promising in energy technologies. However, the low-performance coefficient and bulkiness of traditional packed-bed ACs, primarily due to the high voidage of the sorbent beds leading to low heat transfer coefficients, pose significant challenges. Despite numerous attempts, a practical solution to this problem is yet to be found.In response to this challenge, we propose a novel approach: a fluidized adsorbent bed instead of the traditional packed bed. We also introduce gene expression programming (GEP) as an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) method for modeling the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient in the adsorption bed. Our study includes calculations and model validation for a heat transfer adsorption bed reactor designed for low-pressure adsorption processes. The fluidizing agent of the adsorbent bed was water vapor generated in the evaporator. Silica gel was used as the parent adsorption material in our tests. The heat transfer coefficient was successfully validated and determined through experiments and estimated using the formulated (b-t-wHTc) meta-model. The data evaluated by the model aligns well with the experimental results. Our calculations demonstrate that the GEP-based model accurately predicts the heat transfer coefficient and is suitable for analyzing the fluidized adsorption bed reactor.The outlined studies serve as a benchmark for subsequent simulations of the intensified heat transfer adsorption bed reactor, as they are integral to project No. 2018/29/B/ST8/00442, titled “Research on sorption process intensification methods in modified construction of adsorbent beds,” supported by the National Science Center in Poland.

Hierarchical Ti3C2Tx MXene@Honeycomb nanocomposite with high energy efficiency for solar water desalination

The utilization of solar-driven interfacial evaporation holds immense promise in enhancing energy efficiency and establishing sustainable methods for seawater desalination and water purification. While designing the materials to achieve high evaporation efficiency, the tuning of materials with porosity and surface chemistry is very crucial. Novel sustainable materials are of great importance for solar water desalination applications since clean water production is utmost important in the current era. There exists a lack of exploration in modifying the surface wettability states of solar evaporators to expedite the vapor generation rates. In this study, we showcase a hydrophilic Ti3C2Tx MXene-coated carbonized honeycomb (CHC) (Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC) nanocomposite-based hexagonal-shaped evaporator surface. This is the first-time report on the effective utilization of hierarchical CHC for the preparation of solar absorber comprising of Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite, particularly for the solar water desalination. The Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite evaporator achieves an impressive water evaporation rate of 1.6 kg m−2 h−1 with 90% efficiency under 1 sun illumination. The augmented thickness of the water layer in the hydrophilic surface of the Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite helps in facilitating the rapid escape of water molecules. The relatively elongated contact lines in the hydrophobic region simultaneously ensure substantial water evaporation, significantly enhancing the water desalination process. The Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite exceeds stringent quality benchmarks, signaling its potential for solar water desalination.

The effect of functional group of Graphene-based woven filter on the desalination performance

Abstract Graphene-based braided filter membranes (GWFM) are becoming increasingly crucial in seawater desalination because of their excellent performance, moving from research to practical use and helping to tackle water scarcity. However, the mechanisms associated with GWFMs functionalized by functional groups are unclear. This paper demonstrates that graphene strips are intricately integrated into a filtration membrane characterized by X-functional groups (GWFM-X). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are effective for calculating water flux, assessing salt discharge effects, and understanding the physical mechanisms in seawater desalination, making them crucial for optimizing and advancing desalination technology and salt rejection rate of four types of GWFM-X, namely GWFM-1.2nm-COOH, GWFM-1.2nm-NH2, GWFM-1nm-COOH, and GWFM-1nm-NH2, which were designed with different functional groups and nanopore diameters. These results demonstrate the superior performance of GWFM-X in water filtration applications. Salt rejection efficiency of four distinct variants of GWFM-X, namely GWFM-1.2nm-COOH, GWFM-1.2nm-NH2, GWFM-1nm-COOH, and GWFM-1nm-NH2, is designed with different functional groups and nanopore diameters. The test membrane shows exceptional water flux, significantly outperforming current commercial reverse osmosis membranes, with measurements of 30.00±0.49 L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1, 35.41±0.71 L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1, 9.31±0.31 L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1, and 20.66±0.21 L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1, respectively. The free energy profiles of GWFM-X reveal a pronounced disparity in free energy barriers between water molecules and Na+/Cl− ions, with a difference of up to 14.26 kBT. The simulation results show that the seawater desalination system maintains over 75% efficiency at pressures between 10 and 500 MPa, highlighting its effectiveness and versatility. Moreover, advancements in nanofabrication technology are paving the way for new membrane materials that could improve desalination methods and help address water scarcity.

Unlocking desalination’s potential: Harnessing MXene composite for sustainable desalination

Amidst freshwater scarcity, desalination is an effective solution, elevating pure water to a paramount commodity. Researchers actively pursue cost-effective alternatives to traditional desalination methods, with solar steam-based technologies now-a-days. Herein we report the synthesis of hierarchical photothermal absorber consisting of Ti3C2Tx decorated polypropylene fiber (PPF) composite and further used for solar desalination applications. Ensuring system stability amidst temperature fluctuations, pH variations, and mechanical stresses is pivotal for optimal desalination and wastewater treatment performance. Seamless integration of components is imperative to achieve this. Structurally, the Ti3C2Tx MXene@PPF composite evaporator showcases impressive metrics, such as high evaporation rate of 4.63 kg m-2h−1 along with a remarkable solar-evaporation efficiency of 93.48 % when tested under 1 sun illumination. Moreover, the composite absorber exhibits good mechanical stability, exceptional chemical stability even under harsh conditions (such as acid and alkali environments), outstanding salt tolerance and maintained a consistent evaporation rate over extended durations. Also, the absorber achieves good mechanical properties. These findings underscore the Ti3C2Tx MXene@PPF composite evaporator’s potential as a groundbreaking material for solar steam generation, offering high efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Beyond saline water desalination, its salt-preserving attributes and filtration capabilities position it as a promising alternative for wastewater treatment. This study presents an innovative and scalable solar water purification system applicable to a diverse range of water contaminants and manufacture in a cost-effective way.

Review on advanced techniques in zero liquid discharge water desalination via humidification-dehumidification within thermally-driven transport reactors

The article examines an advanced zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination method focusing on humidification-dehumidification (HDH) in thermally driven transport reactors. The limited availability of water, particularly in dry locations, has prompted the advancement of several desalination techniques. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a prevalent membrane technology in the market; however, it has restrictions regarding brine disposal. ZLD technologies strive to mitigate environmental consequences by transforming saltwater into drinkable water and precious salts while minimizing waste. Membrane Distillation and Crystallization (MD-C) is notable as a highly efficient Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technique. Despite its high energy consumption, it can combine MD-C with renewable or waste energy sources to improve sustainability. Freeze Desalination (FD) was reviewed for its economic efficiency, especially when utilizing cold energy from liquefied natural gas (LNG). Hybrid systems that combine Forward Osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation with condensation (MD-C) can potentially improve water recovery and decrease energy usage. The HDH desalination process imitates the natural precipitation process, examines its ability to operate at low temperatures, and highlights its potential for integration with renewable energy sources. The review discusses the HDH design, the effect of salinity on its performance, and the different dehumidification technologies. It emphasizes the significance of creative methods in achieving sustainable water management.

Optimization of vacuum membrane distillation and advanced design of compact solar water heaters with heat recovery

With the escalating global population, freshwater scarcity has become a pressing challenge. To address this issue, this paper presents a novel compact solar water heater (CSWHT) system incorporating heat recovery and submerged-membrane filtration. The research aims to develop an efficient desalination method that reduces water production costs and maximizes output. The system comprises a feed storage tank, a vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) system positioned atop the submerged CSWHT, a liquid ring vacuum pump (LRVP) utilizing waste heat from the outlet to preheat the feed, and hollow fiber membranes.Three critical parameters, namely the mass of the feed in the storage tank, the number of hollow fiber membrane rows, and the feed volumetric flow rate, were optimized using a multi-objective non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA II) to minimize water production cost (WPC) while maximizing water production. Subsequently, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was employed to identify the optimal scenario from among the selected best solutions.For Mediterranean seawater and a 6 m2 solar collector area, the multi-objective NSGA II algorithm identified 20 membrane rows per collector, 334.4 kg feed mass in the storage tank, and 0.027 kg.s−1 feed mass flow rate as the optimal system parameters. Under these optimized conditions, the system exhibited a daily production capacity of 92.5 kg water, 4.6 kg chloride, and 0.03 g bromide, while achieving a production cost of 12.2 USD.m−3 and a gain output ratio (GOR) of 1.6. These results highlight the system's remarkable potential for desalination with high efficiency and low cost. Future research should focus on scaling up the system and exploring its applicability in various geographical locations.

Enhanced solar desalination with photothermal hydrophobic carbon nanotube-infused PVDF membranes in air-gap membrane distillation

This work aims to increase the efficiency of the solar powered-air gap membrane distillation (SP-AGMD) process; a desalination method driven by solar energy, providing an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to addressing global water shortages. The innovation lies in integrating photothermal hydrophobic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (h-MWCNTs), in varying weight percentages from 5 % to 60 %, into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes using the phase inversion membrane fabrication technique. The h-MWCNTs were synthesized through oxidation and functionalization with oleylamine (OL) to improve their photothermal properties. Their successful integration was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. The h-MWCNTs-based SP-AGMD membranes were further evaluated for wettability, liquid entry pressure (LEP), surface temperature, and solar absorbance, demonstrating significant solar light absorption and localized surface heating. This generated the necessary driving force for the AGMD process. Performance metrics such as vapor flux, salt rejection, specific thermal energy consumption, photothermal efficiency, and temperature polarization (TP) coefficient were significantly improved, especially with a 20 % h-MWCNTs addition, which tripled the solar-energy-driven flux and increased photothermal efficiency by 326 % under standard solar conditions, compared to unmodified membranes. All h-MWCNTs-based SP-AGMD membranes achieved over 99 % salt rejection. Lastly, the membranes were tested with real seawater to confirm their applicability for desalination. This photothermal approach offers a scalable, sustainable solution for water purification, making a significant advancement in membrane distillation technology.

Protonated polyethyleneimine enables synchronous crosslinking of polyimide nanofiltration membranes for dye desalination

Dye recovery and desalination are of great significance in the treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater. Nanofiltration (NF) has been proved an effective method for dye desalination. As organic solvents are usually coexisted, there is a great demand for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes. Compared to thin film composite (TFC) membranes prepared by interfacial polymerized (IP), integrally skinned asymmetric (ISA) membranes with relatively thicker selective layer may present better separation stability in harsh solvent and cleaning reagent. In this work, polyethyleneimine-b-polyethersulfone (PEI-PES) is synthesized and added to PI solution directly, the crosslinking reaction proceeds along with phase conversion process. The PEI chains endow the membrane with good hydrophilicity and high positive charge. PEI-PES/PI membranes show stable permeability in organic solvents such as N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), ethanol (EtOH) and toluene, etc. The rejections of dyes such as Congo Red (CR), Janus Green B, and Sunset Yellow are over 95 % in EtOH, while the rejections of salts like MgSO4 and Na2SO4 are around 20 %. After 200 h separation test, the rejection for CR remains around 92 % in DMF and 96 % in EtOH with a stable flux. The simple and cost-effective preparation process can accelerate the progress of the positively charged OSN membranes.

Biomimetically spider web-like hydrogels for high-efficiency solar evaporators

With the increasing population, the shortage of freshwater resources has become a problem faced by human beings. Although many hydrogel solar evaporators achieved high evaporation rates by increasing the intermediate water content to reduce the enthalpy of water evaporation, it is still challenging to explore effective photothermal materials to construct efficient hydrogel solar evaporators. Here, inspired by the spider web structure, interconnected porous hydrogels were proposed by cross-linking heterojunctions and polymers. For the first time, MXene heterojunction is applied to solar evaporators. The introduction of SnS2 greatly improves the light absorption of MXene, at the same time, benefiting from the multi-scale macro/micro fiber network structure, MXene-SnS2 hydrogel (MSH) has a good “lock-in” performance, which makes the heat locally distributed near the evaporable water. As a result, the MSH evaporator has a low enthalpy of evaporation, with an evaporation rate of 3.3606 kg m−2 h−1 in 3.5 wt% salt water, and can maintain 1.9 kg m−2 h−1 even in 10.5 % brine. The evaporators present superior purification performance for seawater, could maintain high and stable evaporation performance for 72 h. This design principle and excellent performance provide a potential method and design concept for seawater desalination.

Synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene@Carbon-Enhanced cellulose fiber composite-based photothermal absorber for sustainable water desalination

Desalination is a process that extracts salt and minerals from seawater to produce fresh water. It is critical, particularly for those who live on islands or coastal areas. Solar thermal desalination harnesses solar energy to address some of the challenges of traditional desalination methods. It uses solar power to heat seawater directly, initiating evaporation and leaving the salt behind, and further the vapor is condensed to produce fresh water. This method reduces reliance on fossil fuels, minimizing environmental impact and energy costs. This research unveils the synthesis of a solar evaporator consisting of Ti3C2Tx MXene coated over the carbon-enhanced cellulose fibers (CCF) (hereby termed the Ti3C2Tx MXene@CCF composite), which is the first-time report in the field of solar water desalination in using sustainable solar heat absorber. The Ti3C2Tx MXene@CCF composite achieves an impressive evaporation rate of 3.8 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun exposure. The hydrophilic Ti3C2Tx MXene coating on the porous CCF promotes rapid water evaporation. Ti3C2Tx MXene@CCF composite maximizes evaporation rates while maintaining water purity, which is in accordance with the World Health OrganizationFF (WHO) standards.

Solar/microwave-driven composite membrane evaporation and its application in seawater desalination

Increased economic growth and population expansion has heightened the demand for water resources, leading to escalating levels of water scarcity. Sustainable seawater desalination methods, powered by renewable energy, offer promising solutions to the long-standing global water shortage. This study presents a method for seawater desalination that employs eco-friendly materials. The approach involves utilizing metakaolin-based porous geopolymer (GP) as the base material, and depositing graphene oxide (GO) to create a graphene oxide geopolymer (GOGP) composite membrane. The membrane undergoes in-situ self-reduction to obtain reduced graphene oxide geopolymer (rGOGP). The study examines the composition, microstructure, and water evaporation performance of the composite membrane under both solar/microwave-driven. The results show that, under microwave conditions with a frequency of 2450 MHz and power of 400 W, the evaporation rate can reach up to 4.13 kg·m−2·h−1, doubling the evaporation rate achieved through solar-driven evaporation at an equivalent efficiency level. Furthermore, the evaporation rate of the composite membrane remains consistent when exposed to high-concentration saltwater of 15 wt%. Notably, the removal rates of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ all exceed 99 %, meeting the drinking water requirements established by the World Health Organization. This study provides a novel approach to seawater desalination utilizing environmentally friendly materials and clean energy sources.

Efficient interfacial solar evaporation using a novel carbonized foam as photo-thermal converter

Recent research shows that one of the effective and green methods to reduce freshwater scarcity is interfacial solar evaporation. This method does not require energy consumption. One of the important challenges that should be taken into consideration in interfacial solar evaporator systems is the fabrication of solar absorbers with easy, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, efficient and scalable methods. Herein, a carbonized melamine foam (CMF) fabricated via a one-step, fast, low-cost and easy method for solar desalination. The CMF is fabricated by an electrical heat gun within a few minutes and is characterized by various techniques. The prepared CMF as a black foam shows excellent properties for solar desalination such as superhydrophilicity, high light absorption, high water transportation rate, good photo-thermal conversion, high rate of water evaporation and salt resistance. The prepared CMF shows repeatable performance in solar evaporation at consecutive evaporation cycles with solar evaporation rate of 3 kg m−2h−1 and high solar thermal conversion efficiency of 90 % under 1000 W m−2 illumination.

The efficiency of solar stills with copper-coated sponge cubes for water desalination: A comparative study

Water scarcity within the world may be an enormous threat to living beings. Potable water can be produced by renewable energy using solar desalination. In the quest for efficient water desalination methods, researchers have turned to solar stills as a promising solution. One approach to enhancing the productivity of solar stills is the utilization of copper-coated sponge cubes. These cubes, when integrated into the still, provide extended heating periods, leading to higher temperature differences. This, in turn, improves freshwater production by improving the performance of the modified still. In this work, three basin-type solar stills of each 0.5 m2 area have been studied experimentally in the location of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Comparative studies were done between the solar still modified with sponge materials and the modified solar still with sponges coated with copper powder. In these experimental studies, the various performance characteristics related to solar still efficiency have been examined. The sponges were placed inside the water of the basin. The commercially available copper powder was prepared like a paste and coated in the sponges, and it was increased in size to 0.005 m on all sides. The sponges pasted with copper powder reduce the energy losses from the still due to its high thermal conductivity and the evaporation rate also increased by the capillary action of the sponge. High heat transfer to water also occurred due to the addition of copper powder. From the comparative studies, the solar still with sponge materials coated with copper powder gives a higher yield. The proposed solar still with modifications improves efficiency. The solar still without modification gives a yield of 1.3 kg/day, the modified still with sponges gives an output of 1.5 kg/day and the modified still with copper-coated sponges gives an output of 2.35 kg/day. The copper-coated sponge cubes placed still produced an efficiency of 60.07%.

Studying microbially induced corrosion on glass using ToF-SIMS.

Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is an emerging topic that has huge environmental impacts, such as long-term evaluation of microbial interactions with radioactive waste glass, environmental cleanup and disposal of radioactive material, and weathering effects of microbes. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), a powerful mass spectral imaging technique with high surface sensitivity, mass resolution, and mass accuracy, can be used to study biofilm effects on different substrates. Understanding how to prepare biofilms on MIC susceptible substrates is critical for proper analysis via ToF-SIMS. We present here a step-by-step protocol for preparing bacterial biofilms for ToF-SIMS analysis, comparing three biofilm preparation techniques: no desalination, centrifugal spinning (CS), and water submersion (WS). Comparisons of two desalinating methods, CS and WS, show a decrease in the media peaks up to 99% using CS and 55% using WS, respectively. Proper desalination methods also can increase biological signals by over four times for fatty acids using WS, for example. ToF-SIMS spectral results show chemical compositional changes of the glass exposed in a Paenibacillus polymyxa SCE2 biofilm, indicating its capability to probe microbiologically induced corrosion of solid surfaces. This represents the proper desalination technique to use without significantly altering biofilm structure and substrate for ToF-SIMS analysis. ToF-SIMS spectral results showed chemical compositional changes of the glass exposed by a Paenibacillus bacterial biofilm over 3-month inoculation. Possible MIC products include various phosphate phase molecules not observed in any control samples with the highest percent increases when experimental samples were compared with biofilm control samples.

Plant transpiration inspired biomass-derived solar evaporator for highly efficient solar vapor generation

The interface solar evaporation is an energy-saving and environmentally friendly method for seawater desalination and sewage purification. In this work, a biomimetic solar evaporator (ppy@AZL) inspired by plant transpiration was designed to achieve high efficient vapor generation. The ppy@AZL evaporator was made of zizania latifolia as raw material, has a cellulose skeleton with high water transport after alkalization and was decorated with photothermal polypyrrole to form bionic branches and leaves, and has excellent photothermal conversion performance. The evaporation performance and potential application of ppy@AZL evaporator in seawater desalination and sewage treatment were studied. The results indicated that the average evaporation rate of the ppy@AZL in simulated seawater (3.5 wt%) under the irradiation of one sun (1 kW m−2) was 2.239 kg m−2 h−1, and the photothermal conversion efficiency was 93.4 % in this work. In addition, the ppy@AZL evaporator has excellent evaporation rate of 2.668 kg m−2 h−1 in 9 h outdoor continuous evaporation experiment of simulated seawater (3.5 wt%), and can continuously and stably generate vapor. Therefore, this study provided a new solar evaporator with low-cost, simple preparation, better salt resistance, and high evaporation performance for seawater desalination and sewage treatment.

Simulation of vacuum membrane desalination within an enhanced design of compact solar water heaters

Vacuum Membrane Distillation stands out as a solar desalination method utilizing membrane pressure differentials to evaporate seawater and collect it as fresh water. On the other hand, the new design of compact (or integrated) solar water heaters can be very suitable for Vacuum Membrane Distillation use. In the new design of solar system, its upper part, which is under buoyancy pressure, can have a very suitable space for installing the Vacuum Membrane Distillation system. The purpose of this research is to simulate the proposed design and a dynamic time-domain model was developed for comprehensive simulation, encompassing absorber plate characteristics, collector dimensions, mass flow rate, vacuum pressure reduction, the influence of increasing membrane rows, and seawater concentration. Simulation results showcase the system’s potential, yielding 57.12kg/m2/day of freshwater daily with an average gain output ratio exceeding 1.1. The estimated water production cost is 0.039USD.L-1, along with the generation of 4.3kg.kg/m2/day of chlorine and 0.037g.kg/m2/day of bromine from Mediterranean seawater. For super saline water, the projections indicate a daily production of 104.46kg.kg/m2/day of freshwater with a production cost of less than 0.01 USD/L, a GOR of 1.7, and a daily production of 37.8kg.kg/m2/day of chlorine for a collector area of 6 m2. These outcomes underscore the efficiency and economic viability of the proposed design, positioning it as a promising solution for seawater desalination challenges.

Integrated hybrid membrane system for enhanced water treatment and desalination for environmental preservation

Technology advancements in desalination, water treatment, and energy efficiency are crucial to preserving our planet. It is critical to find solutions for the future that save natural resources and lessen environmental damage because the freshwater shortage is getting worse, and energy demand is increasing. They face various obstacles, even though their breakthroughs are extremely important. Lot of energy can be utilized for the traditional desalination techniques, as it negatively impacts the environment. Then, the process of the existing Water Treatment (WT) are expensive and ineffective. An Integrated Hybrid Membrane System for Enhanced WT (IHMS-EWT) is a unique technique for WT and desalination was suggested in this study. The integration of many membrane procedures like nanofiltration, reverse and forward osmosis, and membrane distillation, and these will helps in facilitating the best WT and desalination methods. Due to the incorporating Renewable Energy (RE), the IHMS-EWT also demonstrates the (SWMS) Sustainable Water Management System, as it enhances the EE and thereby reducing the environmental impact. The great potential in the wide range of applications was offered by the IHMS-EWT technique. Providing the decentralized WT solutions in the remote areas, this unique approach has the ability to reduce the fresh water scarcity in the coastal areas based on the demands of the municipal, industrial and agricultural demands. The environmental sustainability throughout the lenghthy operations was ensured by the support of IHMS-EWT. It also helps in providing resilience in the crisis situations. The cost-effective evaluations, operating parameter optimization, and performance prediction of the method was enabled by employing the computational modelling. Through simulatimg different contexts, the effective configurations and operational techniques are focussed on the study for enhancing the IHMS-EWT technology.The model shift in the SWM, the IHMS-EWT technique addresses the main problems and brings one step for more secure environment. Comparing to other existing methods, Improving the water purification by 98.2 %, 94.2 % efficiency rate, the EC prediction rate of 96.2 %, the cost-effectiveness rate by 82.4 % and the performance rate by 96.7 % by the suggested IHMS-EWT model and it was demonstrated by the outcomes of the experiment.