Researchers have found a way to harness waste heat from water electrolysis to desalinate seawater and produce fresh water alongside hydrogen. The new STHW process couples alkaline water electrolysis with low-temperature vacuum distillation desalination, achieving high hydrogen productivity and improving electrical efficiency.
A McGill University-led research team has demonstrated the feasibility of thermally driven reverse osmosis (TDRO) for desalinating seawater, utilizing low-grade heat from solar thermal and geothermal energy. The cost-effective technique could improve access to water and increase sustainability in infrastructure.
A new study finds that ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage in German waters is feasible but with limitations, such as local marine conditions and required materials, energy, and infrastructure. Only five methods were shortlisted for implementation in German North Sea and Baltic waters.
Menachem Elimelech, a renowned leader in desalination and water purification, received the Sidney Loeb Award for his pioneering contributions to membrane-based water treatment technologies. His research focuses on developing advanced membranes and energy-efficient processes for desalination and wastewater reuse.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new membrane that allows water to flow eight times faster while maintaining high salt rejection rates. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination systems, lowering costs and increasing access to clean water.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique to eliminate fluid flow dead zones in electrodes used for battery-based seawater desalination. The tapered flow channel design improves fluid flow by two to three times, making it more efficient than current reverse osmosis methods.
Researchers from UniSA have developed a simple strategy to increase seawater evaporation rates, making desalination more energy-efficient and sustainable. By introducing clay minerals into a photothermal hydrogel evaporator, they achieved a 18.8% higher evaporation rate for seawater compared to pure water.
A new analysis reveals that zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies can increase water recovery from desalination while reducing waste, but at increased costs and energy consumption. The process poses tradeoffs between fighting future water scarcity and environmental effects.
A UTEP student has developed an innovative method to desalinate water, which converts over 90% of salt water to fresh water. The new technique, called salt-free electrodialysis metathesis, uses ion exchange membranes and electrical currents to separate salt from water.
A new process developed by Lehigh University researchers uses evaporative ion exchange (EIX) to concentrate hypersaline brine at room temperature, avoiding scaling and fouling. The process has shown promising results in concentrating salts from hypersaline water, with the potential for widespread use.
The system removes salt from water at a pace that closely follows changes in solar energy, maximizing the utility of solar power. It produces large quantities of clean water despite variations in sunlight throughout the day, making it an attractive solution for communities with limited access to seawater and grid power.
Researchers have designed an energy-efficient device to produce drinking water from seawater using solar power, addressing the critical need for clean water in coastal nations. The new technology can continuously desalinate water without major maintenance, producing up to 20 litres of fresh water per square meter.
Direct seawater electrolysis is not necessary for green hydrogen production, as a simple desalination process can prepare seawater for conventional electrolysers. The development of new types of electrolysers that can operate steadily in seawater would only save the cheap purification step.
A team of researchers has developed a novel 3D printing technology that creates bioinspired solar steam generators for desalination. The innovative design mimics the structure of trees and achieves high water evaporation efficiency, making it an efficient solution to address global freshwater scarcity.
A new method for desalinating seawater using hydrate-based desalination technology has been developed, offering a low-energy solution for producing freshwater. The research team calculated optimal temperatures for enhanced efficiency, with maximum water yields reaching up to 67% in certain brine concentrations.
A new system combines pumped hydro storage with reverse osmosis desalination to produce both electricity and freshwater. The Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System (IPHROS) can supply 661,000 homes' worth of energy and water daily.
A new solar-powered desalination system can produce drinking water at a lower cost and rate than traditional tap water. The system, developed by MIT engineers and their Chinese collaborators, uses natural sunlight to evaporate seawater, leaving salt behind, and has a higher production rate and rejection rate than previous designs.
Researchers at the University of Bath have created a novel technique that removes salt from seawater without high pressure or substantial electrical power. The process uses a small amount of electrical energy to pull chloride ions through a membrane, gradually drawing in more water molecules.
New hybrid membrane technology uses thermosalient organic crystals to effectively remove contaminants from surfaces, increasing water flow by over 43% and extending operational lifetime. This innovation has the potential to make desalination technologies more efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Researchers at the Beckman Institute developed a new purification system that uses an electrified version of dialysis to separate salt and other unnecessary particles from wastewater. The method saves money and saps 90% less energy than its counterparts, making it a promising solution for global water scarcity.
Researchers at the University of Illinois created a new system for desalination using microchannels in Prussian blue electrodes. The study found that adding these channels increased seawater desalination efficiency by five times, reaching salinity levels below freshwater thresholds.
Researchers at Indian Institute of Science developed a novel thermal desalination system that uses solar energy to produce freshwater. The system is more energy-efficient and cost-effective than traditional methods, and can be adjusted to align with the sun's position during the day.
A recent study identified orthophosphate as a contaminant in some antiscalants that promotes bacterial growth, while HEDP-based antiscalants showed no biofouling effect. The research aims to develop simple low-tech tests for desalination plants to reduce energy consumption and extend membrane lifespan.
Researchers at MIT have developed a membrane-free electrochemical process to remove carbon dioxide from seawater, potentially reversing ocean acidification. The system could be integrated with existing desalination plants or ships to help mitigate emissions.
Researchers used a new model to predict the environmental effects of increased desalination and climate change in the Gulf region through 2050. They found that while salinity increases may occur, their impact on marine life is unlikely to be significant.
Researchers at KAUST have developed ultrathin polymer-based ordered membranes that simultaneously exhibit high water flux and high salt rejection. The membranes display excellent performance in both forward and reverse osmosis configurations, surpassing those containing advanced materials like carbon nanotubes and graphene.
A team of Korean researchers has successfully extracted high-quality magnesium sulphate, without calcium impurities, from seawater desalination brine using a novel ethanol-based process. The process achieved up to 67% magnesium recovery efficiency and has potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
A new technology developed at KAUST uses waste heat from solar cells to desalinate seawater, improving efficiency by up to 8% while reducing solar cell temperature. The device features a gravity-driven system and a special fabric that wicks away solid salts and minerals.
A new paper reviews the state-of-the-art desalination technologies and their potential to improve energy demand reductions. The authors also explore advanced materials and innovative technologies for improving performance and sustainability.