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Conventional methods of desalination work mostly on reverse osmosis and thermal processes. In a traditional reverse osmosis process, separation between water and salt is accomplished through the use of semi-permeable membranes with nanometer-sized pores. Even though this provides high selectivity coefficients, it can be considered a disadvantage in terms of increased susceptibility to membrane fouling as a result of the presence of salts, organic materials, and suspended particles. Fouling will cause a gradual reduction in permeate flux rates, elevated operating pressures, increased energy use, and periodic cleaning. On the other hand, thermal desalination by evaporation and subsequent condensation is not reliant on semi-selective membranes for the separation of the salts. In cases involving porous materials, the porosities are known to be higher, and the purpose is mainly to facilitate the transfer of heat and mass. A comparison between the porosity used in osmotic desalination and that used in the process of thermal desalination brings into consideration a fundamental compromise between the principles of selectivity and efficiency. It is within this context that the value added within the new system is based on the aspect of preventing the problem of fouling as well as maintaining a high level for separation efficiency. The idea is to make the system more sustainable.
| References | [1] Li, D. & Wang, H. (2010). Recent developments in reverse osmosis desalination membranes. Journal of Materials Chemistry. [2] Orfi, J., Sherif, R. & AlFaleh, M. (2025). Conventional and Emerging Desalination Technologies: Review and Comparative Study from a Sustainability Perspective. Water 17(2):279. |
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| Country | Tunisie |
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