Low-cost, scalable fabrication of antibacterial asymmetric hydrogels inspired by mangrove systems for superior oil-water separation and salt-tolerant evaporation.

The impact of the water crisis is significant, and among the available solutions, the desalination of seawater and brackish water stands out. Herein, a simple, energy-efficient, and scalable, dual-functional method for pretreatment followed by partial desalination of seawater is reported. A hybrid filtration setup was employed, consisting of naturally available, environmentally friendly adsorbents such as fine sand, carbon, and cellulose filters coated with graphene oxide (GO) and Ti3C2T x MXene. These materials are arranged in layers forming a sandwich structure, allowing seawater to pass through naturally by gravity, without external pressure, making the system highly energy-efficient. The lab-made hybrid filter can process up to ∼2 L of water per hour using a small effective filtration area of ∼63 cm2. The influence of coating concentration was studied using four different concentrations, where 1 mg mL-1 coatings showed better performance for both GO and MXene. After filtration, the water was analysed using various quality parameters, and the filter components were examined via FESEM with EDS to assess morphology and elemental composition. Among GO and MXene, GO-coated filters performed better, achieving a satisfactory pretreatment and a 17.7% reduction in salinity without any external energy input. The salt rejection is mainly attributed to adsorption and electrostatic interactions between the coated materials and dissolved ions in seawater.

Advanced combination of power plant and seawater desalination: system characterization and innovative attempts

Advancing solar steam generation for seawater desalination: Global research trends, photothermal materials, structural innovations, and future directions

Application of multi-criteria decision-making for seawater desalination: A review

Amidoxime modified polyacrylonitrile membrane for simultaneous seawater desalination and uranium extraction: molecular dynamics simulation and experiments

Interfacial solar evaporation offers a sustainable route for seawater desalination, addressing global freshwater scarcity by harnessing solar energy for efficient water evaporation. However, its performance is typically constrained by the availability and intensity of sunlight. Here, we report a novel evaporator design that overcomes this limitation by extracting substantial thermal energy from the bulk water to sustain high evaporation rates even in the absence of solar input. Through rational structural design and optimization of thermal conductivity of the evaporator support, the obtained evaporators harvest energy from the bulk water far exceeding the incident solar flux, enabling rapid evaporation under diverse weather conditions. The optimized evaporator achieves an exceptional evaporation rate of 11.15 kg m-2 h-1 under 1.0 sun. This design strategy expands the operational window of interfacial solar evaporation and offers a robust pathway toward continuous, high-efficiency desalination in real-world environments.

Integrated solid oxide fuel cell and air gap membrane distillation for efficient heat management and sustainable seawater desalination

Making waves: Conceptualization of seawater-augmented potable reuse.

Valorisation of seawater desalination brine via cultivation of a halotolerant microalga in bubble column photobioreactors.

Many tropical islands and coastal communities suffer from high energy costs, unreliable electrical supplies, poverty, and underemployment, which are all exacerbated by climate change. Multi-use Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems could align with the goals and values of these underserved and remote communities. Developing multi-use OTEC systems could help meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals #7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and #13 (Climate Action). Multiple uses of OTEC water and power are explored in this study, including seawater air conditioning, desalination, support for aquaculture in tropical regions, and other uses. A use case for an onshore OTEC plant at the location of the existing OTEC plant in Kona, Hawaii, is examined to determine if sufficient thermal resources exist for OTEC power generation year-round, and to determine the potential for each value-added use. Potential environmental effects are evaluated using a new open-source numerical model for determining the risk from the discharge of large volumes of cold deep seawater in the ocean. Companies currently using the cold deep seawater pumped ashore at the Kona location were surveyed to determine their dependence on and interest in expanded OTEC and cold-water availability at the site. The analysis indicates that multi-use OTEC is feasible, with seawater air conditioning (SWAC), aquaculture, and desalination being the most compatible immediate additions, while future potential exists for adding extraction of critical minerals from seawater and e-fuel generation.

This work proposes the design, construction, and field test of a vacuum seawater desalination system (VSDS) driven by an evacuated tube solar collector (with a total absorption area of 1.86 m2) under tropical climatic condition (Thailand ambient at latitude 13°43′06.0″ N, longitude 100°32′25.4″ E). The VSDS prototype was designed and constructed to be driven by hot water, which is produced by two heat source conditions: (1) an electric heater for laboratory tests and (2) an evacuated tube solar collector for field tests under real climatic conditions. A comparative experimental study to assess the ability to produce fresh water between a conventional dripping/pipe feed column and spray falling film column is proposed in the first part of the discussion. This is to demonstrate the advantage of the spray falling film distillation column. The experimental method is implemented based on the batch system, in which the cycle time (distillation time) considered is 10–20 min so that heat loss via the concentrated seawater blow down is minimized. Later, the field test with solar irradiance under real climatic conditions is demonstrated to assess the freshwater yield and the system performance. The aim is to provide evidence of the proposed vacuum desalination system in real operation. It is found experimentally that the VSDS working with spray falling film provides better performance than the dripping/pipe feed column under the specified working conditions. The spray falling film column can increase the distillated freshwater volume from 1.33 to 2.16 L under identical cycle time and working conditions. The improvement potential is up to 62.4%. The overall thermal efficiency can be increased from 33.7 to 70.8% (improvement of 110.1%). Therefore, the VSDS working with spray falling film is selected for implementing field tests based on real solar irradiance powered by an evacuated tube solar collector. The ability to produce fresh water is assessed, and the overall performance via the average distillation rate and the thermal efficiency (or Gain Output Ratio) is discussed with the real solar irradiance. It is found from the field test with solar time (8.00–16.00) that the VSDS can produce a daily freshwater yield of up to 4.5 L with a thermal efficiency of up to 19%. The freshwater production meets the requirement for international standard drinking water criteria, indicating suitability for household/community use in tropical regions. This work demonstrates the feasibility of VSDS working under real solar irradiance as an alternative technology for sustainable fresh water.

Framework materials offer abundant ion-intercalation sites; however, their desalination performance is often limited by structural instability and low site utilization due to water molecule cointercalation. Herein, we employ interface engineering by coating the framework material with a compact polymer mediator layer. This approach facilitates ion transport while blocking water molecules and synergistically introduces supplementary active sites. Exemplifying this strategy, a composite material (denoted PCN) is fabricated using NiHCF (a Prussian blue analogue) and polyaniline (PANI). PCN enables efficient dual-ion (Na+ and Cl-) extraction in symmetric flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) systems for seawater desalination. Mechanistic investigation reveals that the enhanced performance is not primarily attributed to improved electronic/ionic conductivity from PANI. Instead, the PANI layer forms a hydrophobic interface and introduces nitrogen sites, enabling synergistic dual-ion extraction. This compact mediator layer effectively prevents water molecule coinsertion, incorporates nitrogen-rich active sites, and ensures structural stability, thereby enhancing site utilization efficiency. This work demonstrates that modulating material interfaces to suppress H2O-induced side reactions and augment active site availability advances electrochemical ion extraction for water purification.

Libya, like many arid countries, relies heavily on groundwater resources, which are increasingly scarce. With a 1950 km Mediterranean coastline offering an abundant but highly saline water source (35,000 38,000 ppm), seawater desalination is essential to meet national water demands. This study presents a techno-economic evaluation of three desalination technologies—Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-Stage Flash (MSF), and Multi-Effect Distillation (MED)—for a 1200 m³/day plant. RO design was conducted using ROSA software, while MSF and MED were modeled thermodynamically.RO requires significantly lower seawater intake (117 m³/h) compared to MSF (475.7 m³/h) and MED (200 m³/h), with corresponding plant efficiencies of 43%, 10.5%, and 25%. RO produces potable water (190 ppm TDS), while MSF and MED yield ultra-pure water (~50 ppm TDS), necessitating remineralization. RO operates without steam input, unlike MSF and MED (7.3 m³/h steam), and demands 235 kW of electrical power versus 245 kW (plus steam) for MSF and 50 kW (plus 7.5 m³/h steam) for MED. RO’s high brine pressure (53.5 bar) enables energy recovery, whereas MSF and MED discharge warm brine at low pressure, posing environmental challenges. Economically, unit water costs are $0.37/m³ for RO, $1.52/m³ for MSF, and $1.21/m³ for MED. Overall, RO is the most technically and economically viable option for this capacity under Libyan conditions.

In recent years, the development of high-performance membranes for seawater desalination has attracted significant attention. This work proposes a novel model by employing a boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) as a support in lamellar boron nitride (BN) membranes. The effects of structural parameters as well as the role of nanotubes on seawater desalination performance are explored systematically via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations (NEMD). In addition, the transport mechanism for water molecules and the separation mechanism for ions transmitted through the BN-BNNT membranes are elucidated at the molecular level. Simulation results indicate that the BN-BNNT membrane exhibits a higher water flux rate compared to the BN membrane. Additionally, reducing the gap width from 10 Å to 8 Å leads to a higher ion rejection rate but a significant decrease in water flux rate. The rejection rates for Na+ and Cl- ions are promoted by increasing the interlayer spacing to larger values. This phenomenon can be attributed to the trapping of water molecules and hydration ions in the interfacial regions formed between the BN and BNNT nanosheets. It is possible to simultaneously increase the water flux and interception by inserting nanotubes and adjusting the distance of the interlayer spacing. This study suggests that the stability of lamellar nanomembranes can be enhanced through the incorporation of nanotubes as a support. Simultaneously, it is possible to enhance the rejection rate in such membranes without decreasing the water flux rate by adjusting the relevant structural parameters.

Arid zones, such as the MENA regions and the Sahara countries, are experiencing significant water stress. To address this global challenge, desalination technologies provide a crucial solution, particularly the reverse osmosis (RO) technique, which is widely used to treat Seawater or Brackish water. Mauritania is among the countries facing a scarcity of potable water resources and relies on desalination technologies to meet its water demand. In this work, a numerical and experimental study was carried out on the functional and productive parameters of the Nouadhibou desalination plant in Mauritania using MATLAB/Simulink (R2016a). The study considered two operating scenarios: with and without the energy recovery unit. The objective of this paper is to perform an analytical study of the operating procedures of the Nouadhibou RO desalination plant by varying several parameters, such as the pressure exchanger, and the feed water mixing ratio in the pressure exchanger unit, etc., in order to determine the system’s optimal operating point. This paper analyzes the system’s performance under different conditions, including recovery rate, feed water temperature, and PEX splitter ratio. In Case No. 1 (without a pressure recovery unit), and with a recovery rate of 20%, doubling the plant’s productivity from 400 to 800 m3/d requires 400 kW of power. In contrast, in Case No. 2 (with a pressure recovery unit), achieving the same productivity requires only 100 kW, with a 75% of energy saving. When the desalination plant operates at a productivity of 400 m3/d@40%, the SPC decreases from 6 kWh/m3 (Case No. 1) to 2.7 kWh/m3 (Case No. 2), resulting in a 55% specific power consumption saving. The results also indicate that power consumption increases with both feed water temperature and PEX splitter ratio, while variations in these parameters have a negligible effect on permeate salinity.

The design of a solar-driven interfacial evaporator applied to the process of seawater desalination has attracted great attention due to sustainable renewable solar energy. The underlying mechanisms linking the evaporator structure to its functional performance have yet to be comprehensively established. In this study, we prepared a three-dimensional (3D) porous structured molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) evaporator aerogel by using MoS2 nanosheets as photothermal materials and polyacrylamide hydrogel as immobilization carriers. And MoS2 evaporator aerogel was systematically characterized using various methods. We detailly investigated the influence of the structure characteristics (i.e., the vertical pore channels, the LAR value (which refers to the ratio of light area to effective evaporation area) and volume size) of the 3D evaporators on the evaporation rate and salt resistance performance. The results implied that the MoS2 evaporator aerogel could make full use of the environment energy. Smaller LAR and volume could improve the evaporation performance of the evaporator. In 3.5 wt % salt water, MoS2 evaporator aerogel was evaporated at the rate of 4.07 kg·m-2·h-1 and the photothermal conversion efficiency was 91.84%, without salt crystals produced on its surface. These findings will be helpful to get a deeper understanding of the correlation between the structural characteristics of an evaporator and its evaporation performance for the design of the solar-driven interfacial evaporator applied to the process of seawater desalination.

Stainless steels are commonly used in coastal structures and in seawater desalination and treatment systems, so understanding their corrosion behaviour under different salinity conditions is important to ensure the durability and reliability of the material. In this study, the behaviour of AISI 304L, AISI 316L, and 2205 duplex stainless steels (DSS) was tested in three media with different salinities: brackish water (BSW), seawater (SW), and concentrated seawater bittern (CSW). Testing was conducted using classical electrochemical methods (open circuit potential, linear, and potentiodynamic polarization) supplemented by surface analyses (optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, and optical profilometry). Corrosion resistance increased in the order AISI 304L < AISI 316L < 2205 DSS. Duplex steel 2205 performed best in all media: it exhibited the most positive open circuit potential, the highest polarization resistance, the lowest corrosion current density, and the widest passive range. Unexpectedly, CSW showed improved corrosion resistance compared to SW, which is explained by the reduced chloride content characteristic of seawater bittern after NaCl crystallisation and the presence of magnesium, calcium, and sulphate ions that promote the formation of protective deposits on the metal surface. Pronounced pitting was observed on AISI 304L steel in seawater, while surface degradation in brackish and concentrated seawater was significantly less, and 2205 DSS remained almost unchanged. The results obtained can serve as guidelines for the design and selection of materials for equipment and structures in industries operating in aggressive marine and coastal environments, such as desalination plants, shipbuilding, and energy systems.

This study evaluates the fixed-bed column performance of poly(GMA-glucamine) for selective boron removal and recovery from natural seawater. Batch adsorption tests confirmed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.999) with a boron uptake of 16.3 mg/g, governed by chemisorption through vicinal diol-borate complexation. Fixed-bed experiments at varying height-to-diameter ratios (5.2, 9.1, and 13.7) showed improved breakthrough performance with increased bed depth. Breakthrough data were well described by the Bohart-Adams (R2 > 0.993) and Wolborska (R2 = 0.957-0.989) models, indicating combined control by surface reaction and external mass transfer. BDST analysis exhibited strong linearity (R2 = 0.994-0.999), with bed capacities of 3872-3999 mg/L and critical bed depths of 4.7-9.2 mm, supporting compact column design. Regeneration using 1.0 M HCl achieved 97.5% desorption efficiency and 390 mg/L boron recovery (78-fold enrichment), with over 95% capacity retained after five cycles. The resin exhibited excellent stability across salinity (30-45‰) and temperature (15-35 °C) ranges. The results provide a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental evaluation based on real operational data, offering LCA-level insight into system sustainability. Poly(GMA-glucamine) demonstrates scalable, durable, and cost-effective performance, enabling both boron recovery and sustainable seawater desalination.

Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions increasingly stresses groundwater resources, compromising their availability and quality. In this context, desalinated seawater (DSW) represents a sustainable alternative when combined with conventional water sources and efficient irrigation systems. This study assessed the effect of three irrigation treatments on greenhouse-grown tomato crops in an open hydroponic system. The treatment T1 used only DSW, while T2 and T3 were mixtures of DSW and groundwater in different proportions to achieve electrical conductivities (EC) of 2.5 (T1), 3.5 (T2), and 5.5 dS·m−1 (T3), respectively. Each treatment received the same fertilization level through fertigation, adjusted to the crop’s nutritional needs. Experiments were conducted in duplicate in two greenhouse sectors (West and East). The data on yield, fruit quality, fertilizer use, and water consumption were analyzed. Results indicated that higher EC reduced marketable and total yield, decreased fertilizer use efficiency, and increased the combined cost of water and nutrients per unit of marketable fruit. Additionally, higher EC affected fruit weight and diameter, increased soluble solids, and altered dry matter content. These findings demonstrate that DSW can be an effective and environmentally sustainable irrigation strategy for greenhouse crops.