Seawater Desalination Research Articles

Literature review on the application of graphene in the field of seawater desalination

Seawater desalination technology is an important solution to global water scarcity, yet conventional methods such as reverse osmosis (RO) and distillation face challenges including high energy consumption and costly infrastructure. Graphene, as a novel nanomaterial, has demonstrated promising application prospects in desalination due to its unique physical and chemical properties. This study focuses on the applications of graphene in seawater desalination. Through comprehensive collection, organization, and analysis of relevant literature, the promotion effect of graphene on seawater desalination process in various forms such as permeable membrane and photothermal conversion membrane is analyzed and summarized. Finally, the existing research results, shortcomings and future development directions of graphene in the field of seawater desalination are summarized.

A Decision Support System for Managed Aquifer Recharge Through Non-Conventional Waters in the South of the Mediterranean

Water management in arid regions faces significant challenges due to limited water resources and increasing competition among sectors. Climate change (CC) exacerbates these issues, highlighting the need for advanced modeling tools to predict trends and guide sustainable resource management. This study employs Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) software to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to evaluate the impact of climate change and water management strategies on the Triassic aquifer of “Sahel El Ababsa” in southeast Tunisia up to 2050. The reference scenario (SC0) assumes constant climatic and socio-economic conditions as of 2020. CC is modeled under RCP4.5 (SC1.0) and RCP8.5 (SC2.0). Additional scenarios include Seawater Desalination Plants (SDPs) (SC3.0 and SC4.0), water harvesting techniques (SC5.0) to highlight their impact on the recharge, and irrigation management strategies (SC6.0). All these scenarios were further developed under the “SC1.0” scenario to assess the impact of moderate CC. The initial aquifer storage is estimated at 100 Million cubic meters (Mm3). Under (SC0), storage would decrease by 76%, leaving only 23.7 Mm3 by 2050. CC scenarios (SC1.0, SC2.0) predict about a 98% reduction. The implementation of the Zarat SDP (SC3.0) would lead to a 45% improvement compared to reference conditions by the end of the simulation period, while its extension (SC4.0) would result in a 69.5% improvement. Under moderate CC, these improvements would be reduced, with SC3.1 showing a 59% decline and SC4.1 a 35% decline compared to the reference scenario. The WHT scenario (SC5.0) demonstrated a 104% improvement in Triassic aquifer storage by 2050 compared to the reference scenario. However, under CC (SC5.1), this improvement would be partially offset, leading to a 29% decline in aquifer storage. The scenario maintaining stable agricultural demand from the Triassic aquifer under CC (SC6.1) projected an 83% decrease in storage. Conversely, the total “Irrigation Cancellation” scenario (SC7.1) under CC showed a significant increase in aquifer storage, reaching 59.3 Mm3 by 2050—an improvement of 250% compared to the reference scenario. The study underscores the critical need for alternative water sources for irrigation and integrated management strategies to mitigate future water scarcity.

Concentrating solar power (CSP) assisted FO hybrid systems for desalination of seawater: a preliminary study

This study examines the feasibility and economic performance of Forward Osmosis (FO) desalination systems powered by Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies, specifically Parabolic Trough (PT) and Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) systems. The study evaluates two operational scenarios: batch-mode operation without Thermal Energy Storage (TES) and continuous operation with TES. Seawater serves as the Feed Solution (FS), while Dimethyl Ether (DME) is used as the Draw Solution (DS), recovered through a thermal separation process powered by CSP. Key performance metrics analysed include the Capacity Factor (CF), Levelized Cost of Thermal Energy (LCoT), and Levelized Cost of Water (LCoW). Results indicate that in the non-TES scenario, where the FO system operates for 8 h per day, the PT system achieves the lowest LCoW, ranging between $0.74/m3 and $1.91/m3, while the LFR system exhibits slightly higher costs at $0.89/m3 to $2.38/m3. However, this batch-mode operation limits system efficiency and results in excess unused solar energy due to defocusing. In contrast, the TES scenario enables 24-h continuous operation, significantly increasing CF to 99.73% for LFR but also raising costs. The LCoW for LFR in this configuration ranges from $1.69/m3 to $3.48/m3, with the high cost of TES driving up LCoT between 7.72 and 11.60 c$/kWhth. The findings highlight a fundamental trade-off: while TES enhances operational stability, it introduces prohibitive storage costs, making batch-mode CSP-FO configurations more economically viable. FO module costs significantly impact LCoW, with thermal energy OPEX dominating cost composition in TES cases, while FO CAPEX becomes more influential at higher module prices. Additionally, lower solar field output temperatures reduce LCoW in non-TES scenarios, whereas in TES cases, storage costs remain the primary determinant of economic performance. This study contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable desalination by critically assessing CSP-FO integration under real-world constraints. Compared to conventional RO or MED systems, CSP-FO presents a viable alternative in regions where direct solar-driven desalination is preferred. Future research should prioritize reducing TES costs through alternative storage materials, exploring hybrid CSP-PV-FO configurations, and enhancing FO membrane efficiency to improve overall system feasibility and scalability in arid regions.

Mineral recovery by bioprecipitation from desalination brine using irradiated Micrococcus luteus

Abstract Concentrated desalination brine resulting at the end of seawater desalination pose an environmental hazard due to its high mineral content. Effective treatment is crucial to mitigate its impact and enhance sustainability. An irradiated Micrococcus luteus bacterium was chosen for its tolerance to high salt concentration and was tested for mineral bioprecipitation from a desalination brine. Factorial design was employed to optimize the bioprcepitation conditions. and the bioprecepitate was characterized to evaluate the process. Plackett–Burman results demonstrate that the ratio of dilution and nitrogen sources added were significant variables as shown in the Pareto chart. Further mineral recovery optimization using response surface methodology predicted a quadratic model maximizing the mineral bioprecepitation (17.59 g/L) by adding 24.92 g/L Tryptone as supplementing nitrogen source and diluting the brine with tap water at 0.57 ratios (v/v). Scanning electron microscope image showed the topographical and morphological details while Fourier transform infrared, thermal gravimetric analysis, energy dispersive X-ray mapping and X-ray diffraction represented elemental, organic and physical characteristics of the obtained bioprecepitate. The study confirms that the use of irradiated M. luteus under optimized conditions predominately yielded hydrocalcite. This approach doesn’t only recover minerals, but can also generate water for re-use via an alternative eco-friendly approach, thus supporting the principles of circular economy. It is also an eco-friendly alternative to existing energy consuming technologies. Graphical abstract

Advanced Triboelectric Materials for Contact Electrocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants

AbstractDue to the increasing shortage of freshwater resources and energy, solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) technology has emerged as a key solution for utilizing solar energy to produce freshwater. However, certain volatile contaminants tend to evaporate along with water vapor and condense into the freshwater. This study combined contact‐electro‐catalysis (CEC) with photocatalysis using solar energy to enhance the degradation efficiency of pollutants. A FeOCl/TiO2/PVDF membrane based on photocatalysis and CEC is designed to evaluate the catalytic degradation performance using crystal violet (CV) as a model contaminant. The membrane exhibited a degradation rate of ≈95% for CV within 36 min. The degradation mechanism is further verified by intermediate identification, quenching experiments, and free radical detection. Under visible light, the CV degradation is driven by reactive radicals, such as hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical, which generated through dual electron transfer processes (from water molecules and FeOCl/TiO2 to PVDF). Additionally, the application of the droplet‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is proposed with the FeOCl/TiO2/PVDF membrane in SDIE system to remove phenol in seawater desalination. This study expanded the applications of TENGs and provided strategy to solve the problem of pollutant accumulation in solar‐driven seawater desalination systems.

Solar Energy Based Sea Water Desalination Machine with RO and UV Purifier

Access to clean and potable water is a growing global concern, particularly in coastal and arid regions where freshwater sources are scarce. Traditional desalination tech- niques, such as thermal distillation and conventional reverse osmosis, rely heavily on fossil fuel-based energy sources, leading to high operational costs and significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, these systems often require complex infrastructure, making them inaccessible to remote and off-grid communities. To address these challenges, this research presents a novel solar-powered desalination machine that integrates Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet (UV) purification technologies. The proposed system harnesses solar energy to power high-pressure pumps, eliminating dependency on non-renewable energy sources. The RO unit effectively removes dissolved salts and contaminants, while the UV purification stage ensures microbial disinfection, delivering high-quality drinking water. By utilizing renewable energy, the system significantly reduces operational costs and minimizes carbon emissions, mak- ing it an environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution. The impact of this research extends to enhancing water security in remote and disaster-prone areas, providing a decen- tralized, self-sustaining water purification solution. Experimental results demonstrate the system’s efficiency in reducing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to potable water standards, ensuring safe and reliable water supply. Future advancements will focus on optimizing energy utilization, improving membrane longevity, and integrating smart automation for real-time performance monitoring. This study contributes to the global effort of sustain- able desalination, paving the way for cleaner and more accessible water resources. Index Terms—Solar Energy, Seawater Desalination, Reverse Osmosis (RO), UV Purification, Water Scarcity, Renewable En- ergy Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, Membrane Technology.

Advances in cellulose materials for interfacial water evaporation and their applications in seawater desalination

Advances in cellulose materials for interfacial water evaporation and their applications in seawater desalination

CFD simulation for optimizing the evaporation process in seawater desalination using exhaust heat from AC and vortex generators

CFD simulation for optimizing the evaporation process in seawater desalination using exhaust heat from AC and vortex generators

Bioinspired design of photothermal anti-fouling fabrics for solar-driven sustainable seawater desalination

Bioinspired design of photothermal anti-fouling fabrics for solar-driven sustainable seawater desalination

Micro-interface engineering of CuO-coated copper mesh for enhanced solar absorption and localized heating in continuous seawater desalination

Micro-interface engineering of CuO-coated copper mesh for enhanced solar absorption and localized heating in continuous seawater desalination

Thermo-economic and sustainability analysis of solar-based humidification dehumidification seawater desalination system using different packing materials

Thermo-economic and sustainability analysis of solar-based humidification dehumidification seawater desalination system using different packing materials

Corrugated Janus hydrogel-based solar evaporator with enhanced light-trapping nanostructures inspired by corn bracts for efficient seawater desalination

Corrugated Janus hydrogel-based solar evaporator with enhanced light-trapping nanostructures inspired by corn bracts for efficient seawater desalination

Janus-structured lignin hydrogel evaporator via laser direct writing for high efficiency seawater desalination and solar power generation

Janus-structured lignin hydrogel evaporator via laser direct writing for high efficiency seawater desalination and solar power generation

Study of the effects of flow and temperature rise within the operation of twin-screw controlled pumps for seawater desalination

Based on the effects of rotational speed, clearance leakage, and rotor structure, this study analyzes the hydraulic performance and temperature rise of a specific twin-screw pump (TSP) through numerical simulations and experimental validation. The findings reveal that rotational speed significantly influences both the hydraulic performance and temperature rise of the TSP. As the rotational speed increases, the flow rate rises, while power demand decreases. Clearance leakage plays a crucial role in energy loss and temperature rise. At high rotational speeds, the increased leakage velocity results in a reduction in rotor surface temperature. Additionally, changes in rotor structure and flow patterns lead to uneven thermal distribution at high rotational speeds. The temperature at the rotor's outer edge and the tip clearance can reach up to 440 K, with localized thermal loads concentrated in certain areas. To balance the temperature rise while maintaining performance, achieving a rotational speed exceeding 20% of the rated speed is identified as an effective strategy. The comparison between computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental results confirms the accuracy of the numerical approach, with a deviation of less than 5%. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing TSP design, particularly in areas related to rotational speed, clearance leakage, and thermal management.

Biomass constructing double-layer 3D solar evaporator for highly-efficient seawater desalination and wastewater treatment

Biomass constructing double-layer 3D solar evaporator for highly-efficient seawater desalination and wastewater treatment

Designing multilayer graphene membranes with well seawater desalination performance using machine learning combined with multi-objective optimization

Designing multilayer graphene membranes with well seawater desalination performance using machine learning combined with multi-objective optimization

Performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of a combined seawater desalination and power system based on high-temperature PEMFC and externally fired gas turbine

Performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of a combined seawater desalination and power system based on high-temperature PEMFC and externally fired gas turbine

Synergistic photothermal and electrothermal seawater desalination by a MoS2-coated carbon cloth-based sandwich evaporator with superior anti-salt fouling performance

Synergistic photothermal and electrothermal seawater desalination by a MoS2-coated carbon cloth-based sandwich evaporator with superior anti-salt fouling performance

Improving the efficiency of seawater desalination and hydrogen production: Challenges, strategies, and the future of seawater electrolysis

Improving the efficiency of seawater desalination and hydrogen production: Challenges, strategies, and the future of seawater electrolysis

3D porous vertical graphene-based solar evaporator for effective seawater desalination and wastewater treatment

3D porous vertical graphene-based solar evaporator for effective seawater desalination and wastewater treatment