Abstract
The combination of a growing global population and climate change has raised global concerns about the availability and safety of drinkable water. Seawater desalination is emerging as a low-cost, high-efficiency solution to coastal water constraint. There are around 16,000 desalination plants in operation worldwide, spread over 177 countries, producing approximately 95 million m3/d of fresh water. Nowadays, saltwater desalination technology is divided into two types: distillation and reverse osmosis. Distillation desalination uses distillation units to convert seawater to steam and then condense it. Reverse osmosis desalination entails pressing new water via membranes. High-quality feed water is required for the efficient functioning of desalination units. Pollutants that bypass the saltwater intake and pretreatment processes and enter the downstream desalination operations diminish heat transfer efficiency in thermal desalination facilities while fouling and destroying membranes in reverse osmosis desalination plants. As a result, the quality of the produced water deteriorates. Intensive flushing and equipment cleaning frequently need a substantial plant closure.
