Clathrate Hydrate Desalination Technology: A Review of Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Water scarcity poses a significant global challenge, with Earth’s hydrosphere holding vast water reserves of which only glaciers, groundwater, and surface water come under freshwater resources. However, these sources of freshwater are being depleted due to global warming and human activities, resulting in water stress and pollution, which adversely affect health, food production, and environmental sustainability. To overcome this challenge, innovative desalination technologies have been developed. In this context, we explore diverse types of saline waters and their compositions and outline the desalination process. Clathrate hydrate-based desalination has emerged as a promising technology for generating fresh water from saline sources. Hydrates selectively capture water molecules from saline solutions, offering energy-efficient and environmentally friendly desalination. This review comprehensively examines the literature on clathrate hydrate-based desalination, including discussions on thermodynamics, kinetics, and energy requirements. Furthermore, it compares clathrate hydrate-based desalination to existing technologies and discusses future directions for commercialization.