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Reverse Osmosis and Beyond: A Review of Desalination, Brine Management, and the Pursuit of Zero Liquid Discharge |
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PP: 5-41 |
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doi:10.18576/wefe/050201
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Author(s) |
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Sohair Ahmed Darwish,
Ibrahim Mohamed Ismail,
Amr Abdelkader,
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Abstract |
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| Desalination has become essential in addressing global freshwater scarcity. However, the generation of concentrated brine remains a major environmental and operational challenge, especially as water recovery targets increase. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current desalination technologies, brine disposal methods, and emerging strategies targeting Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).
The paper first explores thermal, pressure-driven, and electrically driven desalination processes, with a focus on Reverse Osmosis (RO) as the industry’s leading technology. Common brine disposal methods are evaluated, alongside their environmental limitations.
Advanced brine treatment technologies are then discussed, including thermal, membrane-based, and electrically driven systems. These technologies are then extensively evaluated and compared in terms of specific energy consumption and salinity limits.
Finally, the review analyses advanced RO-based ZLD configurations, including tandem RO, chemically enhanced stages, and RO-hybrid systems with electrodialysis or crystallisation. While high recovery rates have been demonstrated, most systems remain limited by energy demand, operational complexity, and cost.
This review highlights the critical need for integrated, efficient, and scalable solutions to bridge the gap between freshwater production and sustainable brine management.
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