Unlocking the potential of desalinization brine: Challenges and opportunities for the circular economy

Abstract

Water desalinization technology has positively contributed to providing access to safe drinking water for communities across the globe, with a rapid increase in the adoption of this technology since the 1960s. While freshwater is the primary product of water desalinization facilities, a byproduct known as “brine” is generated during the desalinization process. Brine is a highly saline water, with valuable resources such as Magnesium and Lithium; however, it is mainly treated as a waste and disposed of into the environment which results in negative environmental impacts and significant resource loss. The increasing attention for resource recovery from the brine over recent years has led to more studies and experiments being conducted to explore this remarkable opportunity. Recent advancements in this field include technological progress towards resource recovery, such as Membrane Distillation Crystallization, Zero Liquid Discharge, and Supercritical Water Desalinization, which are highlighted in this work. Moreover, this review paper investigates current challenges including the recovery of multiple resources from brine to eliminate waste and contribute to the circular economy, in addition to current gaps in techno-economic studies and environmental impact assessments, emphasizing the need for creative and integrated systems to boost the sustainability and feasibility of brine utilization. Unlocking this promising opportunity to recover resources from the brine can offset the already costly desalinization process and support global sustainability targets.