Dynamic Regulation of Hydrogen Bonding Networks and Solvation Structures for Synergistic Solar‑Thermal Desalination of Seawater and Catalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Although solar steam generation strategy is efficient in desalinating seawater,it is still challenging to achieve continuous solar-thermal desalination of seawater and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.Herein,dynamic regulations of hydrogen bonding networks and solvation structures are realized by designing an asymmetric bilayer membrane consisting of a bacterial cellulose/carbon nanotube/Co_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)nanorod top layer and a bacterial cellulose/Co_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)nanorod(BCH)bottom layer.Crucially,the hydrogen bonding networks inside the membrane can be tuned by the rich surface–OH groups of the bacterial cellulose and Co_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)as well as the ions and radicals in situ generated during the catalysis process.Moreover,both SO_(4)^(2−)and HSO_(5)−can regulate the solvation structure of Na^(+)and be adsorbed more preferentially on the evaporation surface than Cl^(−),thus hindering the de-solvation of the solvated Na^(+)and subsequent nucleation/growth of NaCl.Furthermore,the heat generated by the solar-thermal energy conversion can accelerate the reaction kinetics and enhance the catalytic degradation efficiency.This work provides a flow-bed water purification system with an asymmetric solar-thermal and catalytic membrane for synergistic solar thermal desalination of seawater/brine and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

Multi-effect distillation system for seawater desalination driven by tidal energy and low grade energy

A multi-effect distillation technology for seawater desalination driven by tidal energy and low grade energy is presented.In the system,tidal energy is utilized to supply power instead of coventional electric pumps during the operation,resulting in the decrease of dependence on steady electric power supply and a reduction in the running costs.According to the technological principle,a testing unit is designed and built.The effects of the feed seawater temperature and the heat source temperature on the unit performance are tested and analyzed.The experimental results show that the fresh water output is 27 kg/h when the heating water temperature is 65 ℃ and the absolute pressure is 25 kPa.The experimental and theoretical analysis results indicate that the appropriate heating water temperature is a key factor in ensuring the steady operation of the system.

Development and interpretation of ISO 13205:2024,Marine technology-Seawater desalination-Vocabulary

Vocabulary is the most basic subject of standardization.Despite that individual terms related to seawater desalination have been mentioned in some standards and technical documents of ISO,WHO,and ASTM,the inconsistent expression might still induce ambiguity in communications among the participators in this area.Moreover,terms in these documents are not comprehensive.Consequently,ISO 13205:2024 is developed to eliminate the misunderstanding in both the academic and commercial communications.This paper expounds on the specific progress of the research in three aspects:background,drafting of ISO 13205:2024,and interpretation of ISO 13205:2024.The significance of the standard is also discussed.

Impacts of Climate Change on Seawater Temperature and Total Dissolved Solids: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions for Reverse Osmosis Desalination in the Arabian Gulf Region

This article examines the influence of seawater temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) on reverse osmosis (RO) desalination in the Arabian Gulf region, with a focus on the impact of climate change. The study highlights the changes in seawater temperature and TDS levels over the years and discusses their effects on the efficiency and productivity of RO desalination plants. It emphasizes the importance of monitoring TDS levels and controlling seawater temperature to optimize water production. The article also suggests various solutions, including intensive pre-treatment, development of high-performance membranes, exploration of alternative water sources, and regulation of discharges into the Gulf, to ensure sustainable water supply in the face of rising TDS levels and seawater temperature. Further research and comprehensive monitoring are recommended to understand the implications of these findings and develop effective strategies for the management of marine resources in the Arabian Gulf.

Experimental Study on Corrosion of Stainless Steel in Low Temperature Multi effect Seawater Desalination

Starting from the corrosion mechanism,this paper analyzes the characteristics of various types of stainless steel and selects the best performance composite plate composite plate stainless steel.Analyze and select the most suitable corrosion detection method based on specific practical multi working conditions,discuss the interference factors that affect metal corrosion during experimental simulation,and the advantages of newly developed sheet metal.The new development of composite board panels,with the substrate and composite materials applying their respective capabilities for MED,will bring breakthrough progress to the scientific research and engineering applica-tion of composite boards.

Study of reverse osmosis membranes fouling by inorganic salts and colloidal particles during seawater desalination

Fouling phenomenon is considered among the major reasons that cause significant increase of operating cost of desalination plants equipped with reverse osmosis(RO)membranes.This phenomenon is studied in the present work in the case of RO polyamide aromatic membranes using model seawater containing inorganic salts and colloidal compounds.Different solubility conditions of CaCO3 and CaSO4 were applied to study RO performances with and without colloid presence.During experiments,the membrane permeate fluxes were continuously monitored.Moreover,studies of chemical composition,structure,and morphology of the materials deposited on the membrane surface were conducted using energy dispersive microanalysis(EDS)X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy(SEM).Results show that in conditions of calcium carbonate oversaturation there is a reduction in the permeate flow of 11.2%due to fouling of the membrane by the precipitation of this compound.While in the same conditions of calcium sulphate oversaturation the reduction of the flow is 5%,so we can conclude that in conditions of oversaturation of both salts,calcium carbonate produces a greater fouling of the membrane that in its view causes greater decrease in the flow of permeate.All this based on the results of the test with both salts in oversaturated conditions.Resulting in the formation of calcite and gypsum crystals onto the membranes as XRD analyses stated.Additional presence of colloidal silica in those conditions intensifies strongly the fouling,leading until to 24.1%of permeate flux decrease.

Sub-chronic Toxicity of Defoamer Used in Seawater Desalination

Objective To explore the possible long‐term health effects of the defoamer used in seawater desalination by sub‐chronic toxicity testing. Methods Blood analysis, internal organ assessment, and histopathological examination were carried out in rats exposed to low, medium, and high(0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg BW, respectively) doses of defoamer for 90 days through oral administration. Results The high dose group showed decreased blood alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase(P < 0.05). All doses resulted in a significant increase in albumin and decrease in globulin(P < 0.05). The direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin were decreased in the medium and high dose groups(P < 0.05). All dose groups showed significant induction of alkaline phosphatase(P < 0.05). Pathological examination revealed a case of liver mononuclear cell infiltration in the medium dose group and three cases of liver congestion, steatosis of hepatic cells around the central vein, and punctate necrosis with multiple focal mononuclear cell infiltration in male rats administered the high dose. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level was 0.5 g/kg BW in rats, with albumin and total bilirubin as health effect indices. Conclusion Long‐term defoamer exposure may cause liver injury but has no significant impact on renal function in rats. The effect on blood cells in female rats was more prominent than that in male rats.

Optimal capacity planning of combined renewable energy source-pumped storage and seawater desalination systems

As water scarcity is becoming a growing threat to human development, finding effective solutions has become an urgent need. To make better use of water resources, seawater desalination and storage systems using renewable energy sources(RES) are designed and implemented around the world. In this paper, an optimal capacity planning method for RES-pumped storage-seawater desalination(RES-PS-D) system is introduced. The configuration of the RES-PS-D system is clarified first, after which a cost-benefit analysis is performed using all cost and benefit components. A function for determining maximum economic benefits of the RES-PS-D system is then established, and the constraints are proposed based on various limitations. The mixed-integer linear programming algorithm is applied to solve the optimal function. A case study is introduced to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method. The conclusion shows that the strategy is suitable for solving the configuration optimization problem, and finally both merits and defects of the method are discussed.

Effect of Cross-flow Velocity on the Critical Flux of Ceramic Membrane Filtration as a Pre-treatment for Seawater Desalination

Pre-treatment, which supplies a stable, high-quality feed for reverse osmosis （RO） membranes, is a criti- cal step for successful operation in a seawater reverse osmosis plant. In this study, ceramic membrane systems were employed as pre-treatment for seawater desalination. A laboratory experiment was performed to investigate the effect of the cross-flow velocity on the critical flux and consequently to optimize the permeate flux. Then a pilot test was performed to investigate the long-term performance. The result shows that there is no significant effect of the cross-flow velocity on the critical flux when the cross-flow velocity varies in laminar flow region only or in turbulent flow region only, but the effect is distinct when the cross-flow velocity varies in the transition region. The membrane fouling is slight at the permeate flux of 150 L·m^-2·h^-1 and the system is stable, producing a high-quality feed （the turbidity and silt density index are less than 0.1 NTU and 3.0, respectively） for RO to run for 2922.4 h without chemical cleaning. Thus the ceramic membranes are suitable to filtrate seawater as the pre-treatment for RO.

Planning and design of a micro energy network for seawater desalination and regional energy interconnection

With the rapid developme nt of the economy, the continu ously in creasing populati on, and ongoing climate change, the shortage of freshwater resources has become an increasingly important global problem. Seawater desalination tech no logy can effectively alleviate the pressure on freshwater supplies and has bee n in vestigated in many countries. However, the majority of existing projects focus on the research and development of desalination equipment and the use of new tech no logies and pay less atte ntion to the operation optimizati on of the desalinati on process. The micro energy n etwork (MEN) designed in this study is an efficient distributed energy supply system that can be used to simultaneously supply electricity, cooling, heating, and freshwater as photovoltaic power, wind power, combined heat and power (CHP), electric cooling and heating, and a seawater desalinati on device are in teg rated into the MEN. In this study, a model for operati on optimization of a MEN for seawater desalination was developed and the influences of the electric cooling and heating ratios and the operation optimization of the seawater desalination device were studied with the aim of minimizing the life cycle cost. Based on the results of this study, MENs can reduce the operation cost of desalination devices and improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources.

Multi-functional forward osmosis draw solutes for seawater desalination

Forward osmosis(FO), as one of the emerging desalination technologies, has the potential to produce fresh water from a variety of water sources by utilizing the osmotic pressure gradient across a semi-permeable membrane.Draw solution, as an essential component of any FO process, can extract water molecules from seawater or wastewater. An ideal draw solution should meet three essential requirements, namely high osmotic pressure, low reverse flux, and facile regeneration mechanism. The selection of proper draw solutes is especially critical for an energy-efficient FO process since the energy consumption mostly arises from the separation or regeneration of the draw solution. Recently, we developed a few multi-functional FO draw solutes, mainly aiming to enhance the FO water flux and to explore facile re-concentration methods. This review summarizes these draw solutes,including Na^+_- functionalized carbon quantum dots, thermoresponsive copolymers, hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles, and thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles.

Effect of Brine Disposal on Seawater Quality at Az-Zour Desalination Plant in Kuwait:Physical and Chemical Properties

Seawater desalination has become the only viable source of fresh water for Kuwait.However,desalination plants could have several impacts on the surrounding marine environment.The major concern of these impacts surrounds the outfall effluent discharge because of its physical and chemical features including high temperature and salinity associated with residual chemicals used in the pretreatment process.In this study assessment of potential impact of Az-Zour desalination plant discharge effluent on marine environment was carried out.The assessment consisted of field measurements and numerical modelling of effluent dispersion.The results revealed a potential impact by temperature and salinity between 4 and 6 oC and 2-4 ppt above ambient and mean levels for Kuwait seawater.The predictions of hydrodynamic modelling show that the plume from the outfall runs parallel to the shoreline and the influenced area can reach to about 40 km^2.

Desalination of Seawater by Liquid Columns and Decompression Boiling (Recovery of Condensation Latent Heat)

In this study, the concept of a new seawater desalination method and equipment using liquid columns of seawater and desalinated fresh water, decompression boiling and evaporation, condensation, and recovery of condensation latent heat are proposed. The equipment consists of seawater and freshwater columns approximately 10 m high with top spaces. The pressure of the top space, the evaporation and condensation area, of the seawater column, for example, is reduced approximately 30 mmHg (abs.) using the seawater column, after which it is heated from the general seawater temperature of 25°C to 30°C to boil and evaporate the seawater. The vapor is cooled by the seawater at approximately 25°C in a heat exchanger, and then, it is condensed and sent to the fresh water column. At this time, the condensation latent heat is recovered to preheat the newly flowing seawater. The evaporation or condensation rate, namely, the production rate of freshwater, by the new desalination equipment is also estimated by the results of the existing quadruplex effect vacuum evaporator used in the salt production industry. This new desalination method and its associated equipment also can be used to purify polluted water and waste water.

Levels of Trace Metals and Hydrocarbons Generated from Seawater Desalination Plant in the Sediment of Kuwait Marine Area

Kuwait has adopted a dual system in which large-scale desalination plants are coupled to the power generation plants.These dual systems are located on the coastline and utilize huge amount of water for distillation and cooling.As a result,large volume of brine is produced which disposed back into the Gulf with an increase in temperature over the seawater ambient temperature.This brine is also loaded with chemicals used in the pretreatment stages and trace metals.The increases in desalination activities in Kuwait raise concerns over potential negative impacts on the coastal marine environment.In the study,sediment samples were collected from19stations in summer and spring seasons.The samples were analyzed for metals and hydrocarbons concentrations.The results revealed that the concentration of all analyzed metals at the vicinity of Az-zour desalination plant were relatively low and ascribed within the limits of unpolluted areas.The results also showed that the contamination by Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons(TPH)and Total Organic Carbon(TOC)in sediments from the investigated area was relatively low and did not indicate high contamination with petroleum near the plant.

China's Seawater Desalination Plants Produce Megatons Freshwater For Low Cost

China, as many other parts of the world, has a serious shortage of water resources. In China, there is a total amount of 2.8×10^12 m3 of freshwater, but that is only 2000 m3 per capita, which is about one quarter of the world average. Thereforc, seawater desalination engineering is of great significance to the nation.

Renewable Energy Seawater Desalination Technology and Application Analysis

This paper proposed a new technology way for seawater desalination which used renewable energy(wind energy and solar energy).The effects of practical application showed that remote islands and cage culture zones in the bay that lack electricity and water are very suitable for using small seawater desalination devices that do not require consumption of conventional energy.

Assessing the Seawater Intrusion Due to Beach Wells in the Desalination Plant

Short-Term Low Volume (STLV) Sea Water Desalination Plant of 6000 m3/d is under construction in the middle area of Gaza Strip. The plant will provide desalinated water for 75,000 inhabitants in regions in Khanyounis and Rafah. The intake of desalination plant will be indirectly from four beach wells. This article aims at providing the environmental impacts of these wells on the aquifer and the mitigation measures in case of negative impacts. In order to study the impacts of beach wells on the aquifer, a prediction groundwater three-dimensional model for the beach wells area, starting from the year 2000 until year 2030, was used. MODFLOW software was used for modeling the groundwater flow and SEAWAT software was used to model the seawater intrusion effect. The aquifer parameters were set as if they were in the transient model. The long term seasonal recharge rate for the summer and winter is considered to represent the seasonal differences in recharge through each year. The study showed that the steady four-meter drawdown in the beach wells will force the flow from the eastern direction to the sea. This will have positive impacts on the aquifer since it will decrease the seawater intrusion to the aquifer. The beach wells will pump water with Cl concentration equal to 18,000 mg/l. This means that the beach wells will accelerate the flow from the aquifer to the sea direction but still the pumped water is considered as seawater. This indicates the positive impacts on the groundwater aquifer since it will decrease the seawater intrusion in the beach wells area (Gaza Strip Middle area). In conclusion, these beach wells in this desalination plant (small capacity) are safe for the groundwater aquifer and it will decrease the effect of seawater intrusion on the aquifer.

Automatic Measurement and Control Design of Sea Wave Energy Storage and Seawater Desalination Device

The application of seawater desalination has become more and more popular. The reverse osmosis membrane method is one of its applications, but it consumes more energy resources and produces freshwater with high cost. The four-column floating bed we designed has low investment and is simple and easy to operate. The sea wave energy storage and seawater desalination device produced by this method has greatly reduced the cost of freshwater produced. This paper focuses on the design of the automatic measurement and control loop of the device.

Study of a Melt Crystallization Process for Seawater Desalination

The work aims to develop a process for freezing desalination of seawater on cold walls. The experiments were performed with water/NaCl solutions of different concentrations and with samples of seawater. The pilot crystallizer consists of a cooled tube immersed in a cylindrical double jacketed tank containing water to be treated. The complete process of desalination is conducted in two steps： the freezing step, leading to the crystallization of the ice layer and the sweating step, which consists of purifying the ice layer in depth by melting the impure zones. The systematic study of the influence of operating parameters has highlighted the important role of the cooling ramp and salinity of the solution on the purity of the ice produced. In the absence of stirring, the temperature of the double jacket also has a noticeable effect on the purity of the ice due to temperature gradients, and consequently, convection currents that may result in the solution. The results of this work show the feasibility of the technique and give a good indication of operating conditions that can be used to produce drinking water.

Engineering Problems of a New Thermal Seawater Desalination Technology

A new thermal seawater desalination technology was introduced in this paper. The influencing law of temperature difference between fresh water and seawater on heat utilization was disclosed and a performance evaluation theory for the water-heat ratio-based thermal seawater desalination device was established. Engineering problems of the new thermal seawater desalination technology using fuel oil, natural gas, solar energy, nuclear energy and a variety of industrial waste heat sources were analyzed. A seawater desalination device design using waste heat of diesel engine which is applicable to islands and vessels was proposed. Finally, the technical route for comprehensive utilization of seawater resources and solving the water crisis was developed.