Article
Engineering, Chemical
Adrian Gil-Trujillo, J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso
Summary: This article analyzes the sustainability of brine management and proposes 7 Sustainable Brine Management Goals, 11 targets, and 18 monitoring indicators. It also presents a practical case in the Canary Islands, Spain to evaluate the scope of these goals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angel Rivero-Falcon, Baltasar Penate Suarez, Noemi Melian-Martel
Summary: Recent research has shown that desalination brine can be seen as a valuable resource rather than waste, and the Canary Islands are an ideal location to study its characteristics and potential. The results of this study are beneficial for industrial suppliers and future users of desalination brine valorisation (DBV) technologies, as they can estimate the chemical composition of brine based on its conductivity. However, further improvements and research are needed to enhance its large-scale feasibility and viability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Argyris Panagopoulos
Summary: This research article examines the technical and economic aspects of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems using two different crystallization processes, and compares their water recovery rates, energy demands, and costs. The results show that both scenarios are viable, but scenario 1 has higher water recovery and greater energy and cost demands.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Argyris Panagopoulos, Vasiliki Giannika
Summary: This study presents a techno-economic & environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in the Eastern Mediterranean. The results indicated that both MLD and ZLD systems are comparable in cost to subsurface water sources and can be lucrative through the selling of fresh water.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elisa Dallavalle, Mariasole Cipolletta, Valeria Casson Moreno, Valerio Cozzani, Barbara Zanuttigh
Summary: The Canary Islands are still heavily dependent on expensive imported fossil fuels, facing pressures from growing tourism and water scarcity, and are extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change. This study aims to explore the potential benefits of a hybrid installation using wave and solar energy to power a desalination plant in Tenerife. The research provides a procedure for designing hybrid installations, assessing renewable energy sources, determining the optimal combination, and conducting economic evaluations.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Penghua Guo, Tiantian Li, Yi Wang, Jingyin Li
Summary: The novel spray-evaporation multi-effect distillation (SE-MED) desalination system utilizes spray evaporation technology for freshwater and salt recovery, with a three-level energy recovery process to improve system performance.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kiho Park, Jungbin Kim, Seungkwan Hong
Summary: This paper explores the importance of membrane brine management systems, discusses the differences and requirements of SSP and DSP membranes, and provides suggestions for future membrane development.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Amanda Prado de Nicolas, Angel Molina-Garcia, Juan Tomas Garcia-Bermejo, Francisco Vera-Garcia
Summary: Water is crucial for sustainable development, but its availability has been significantly threatened in the 21st century. Freshwater supplies are being depleted due to population growth, industrialization, and agriculture. Water contamination, especially nitrate pollution, is a major concern. Desalination and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) have been proposed as solutions. This study analyzes and compares brine treatment technologies targeting ZLD, and lists different denitrification processes.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giulia Cipolletta, Nicola Lancioni, Cagri Akyol, Anna Laura Eusebi, Francesco Fatone
Summary: This paper reviews the current state of the art brine treatment technologies targeting MLD/ZLD and resource recovery, highlighting their advantages and limitations. The right combination of treatment processes can add high value to brine management, shifting the focus towards recovery and reuse, and promoting a more circular economy approach.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noelia Cruz-Perez, Juan C. Santamarta, Alejandro Garcia-Gil, Jesica Rodriguez-Martin, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, Anastasia Hernandez-Aleman, Maite M. Aldaya
Summary: This study examines the water footprint of different water collection and wastewater treatment facilities in the Canary Islands and finds high percentages of drinking water losses, with wells and distribution networks having the largest blue water footprint. Wastewater treatment plants also contribute to the gray water footprint. To reduce the water footprint, it is essential to optimize water resource utilization, improve infrastructure, and implement a circular economy.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tae Jun Yoon, Prashant Sharan, Erica P. Craddock, Jeremy C. Lewis, John A. Matteson, Jong Geun Seong, Rajinder P. Singh, Katie A. Maerzke, Robert P. Currier, Alp T. Findikoglu
Summary: Zero-liquid discharge desalination techniques, particularly supercritical water desalination, are being actively studied as alternative means to produce drinkable water and recover critical materials. This work demonstrates the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing supercritical water desalination for the selective recovery of critical materials.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zi Hao Foo, Caleb Stetson, Elizabeth Dach, Akshay Deshmukh, Hyeonseok Lee, Akanksha K. Menon, Ravi Prasher, Ngai Yin Yip, John H. Lienhard, Aaron D. Wilson
Summary: Solvent-driven separation processes have the potential to extract water and high-value minerals from brines, reducing environmental impact and enabling resource recovery. Fractional crystallization can selectively extract ions, allowing for critical materials to be recycled and promoting sustainable wastewater treatment.
TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sebastian A. Romo, Mohammed Elhashimi, Bahman Abbasi, Jelena Srebric
Summary: This paper presents a thermodynamic model for a novel system that uses Humidification-Dehumidification technology to handle hypersaline brine with zero-liquid discharge and off-grid capabilities. The model demonstrates the system's robustness and comparable operating costs to existing brine disposal techniques. Additionally, the study highlights the unfulfilled market demands for high recovery rates and high feed salinities in existing desalination methods.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Argyris Panagopoulos
Summary: This study explores the feasibility of a zero liquid discharge desalination system in Eastern Mediterranean countries and finds that it has high recovery rates, reasonable energy demands, and low costs compared to conventional methods.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING-PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Khadije El Kadi, Isam Janajreh, Sufian Abedrabbo, Mohamed Ibrahim Ali
Summary: Hypersaline brine production from desalination plants causes significant environmental stress, and the increasing desalination capacity is expected to further exacerbate the issue. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) or minimal liquid discharge (MLD) systems offer a potential solution for sustainable brine management by maximizing water recovery and minimizing liquid waste. This study proposes a theoretical design for a ZLD/MLD system using reverse osmosis (RO) brine management, incorporating multistage freeze desalination (FD) and its hybridization with direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and eutectic freeze crystallization (EFC) technologies. The design is based on experimental assessment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. Results show that the proposed design can achieve water recovery between 40 and 93% with specific energy consumption (SEC) ranging from 28 to 114 kWh/m(3), while exceeding drinkable water standards.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Diana B. Reis, Anastasia Shcherbakova, Rodrigo Riera, Virgina M. Martin, Pedro Domingues, Jose P. Andrade, Pablo Jimenez-Prada, Covandonga Rodriguez, Antonio Sykes, Eduardo Almansa
Summary: The research on the impact of different prey on the lipid requirements and growth of Octopus vulgaris paralarvae found that using Grapsus as prey had the best effect on the growth and survival of paralarvae, while there was little difference in the effects of different stages of Artemia.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Claudia Bruno, Claudio F. Cornejo, Rodrigo Riera, Christian M. Ibanez
Summary: The study found significant differences in the diet of the jumbo squid throughout the year, among sizes, and between sexes, with the exception of interactions between these factors, and significant differences in cannibalism when evaluated independently. Body size was identified as the best predictor of diet composition, richness, and cannibalism variation. The jumbo squid mainly preys on crustaceans and cephalopods, contrasting with ecosystem models that suggest it primarily preys on commercially-exploited fish species.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Camila Montecinos, Carolina Alvarez, Rodrigo Riera, Antonio Brante
Summary: Inbreeding depression significantly affects the biological fitness of O. tuberculata, with potential outbreeding depression observed when mating occurs between individuals from different localities. Recognition mechanisms that favor inbreeding were observed in this species, indicating a potential adaptation mechanism for promoting inbreeding.
MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
(2021)
Review
Fisheries
Christian M. Ibanez, Rodrigo Riera, Tatiana Leite, Mariana Diaz-Santana-Iturrios, Rui Rosa, M. Cecilia Pardo-Gandarillas
Summary: This study reviews biases in stomach content analysis for cephalopods, suggests using unbiased estimators for describing dietary data, and highlights the influence of empty stomachs and highly digested preys on sample size. It also emphasizes the importance of increasing trophic studies to fill the gap of knowledge in cephalopod diet.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ricardo Sousa, Joana Vasconcelos, Ivan Vera-Escalona, Ana Rita Pinto, S. J. Hawkins, Mafalda Freitas, Joao Delgado, Jose A. Gonzalez, Rodrigo Riera
Summary: The study on limpet populations in the Archipelago of Madeira reveals the impact of rising sea levels following the Last Glacial Maximum and recent heavy exploitation on genetic composition. Anthropogenic activity may have had serious effects on genetic diversity of littoral species, accelerating in recent years.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Rodrigo Riera, Ricardo Rodriguez, Dominic McAfee, Sean D. Connell
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ricardo Sousa, Joana Vasconcelos, Ivan Vera-Escalona, Rodrigo Riera
Summary: This study sequenced the microbiome of the digestive system and gonads of sea snails and identified pathogenic bacteria, such as Micrococcus luteus and Serratia marcescens, that could pose a threat to humans. The findings have implications for human health and shed light on the potential risks of consuming other shellfish and invertebrate species.
MOLLUSCAN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Fernando Pinillos, Rodrigo Riera
Summary: Sandy seabeds may reduce movement of reef-associated species across MPA boundaries, increasing the reserve effect while decreasing spillover. In the Cerbere-Banyuls Marine Reserve, fish biomass and size were higher within the MPA but declined rapidly across the reserve boundary. However, there was no sharper decline in biomass at the northern boundary with a habitat discontinuity compared to the southern boundary with continuous habitat.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Eros Fernando Geppi, Rodrigo Riera
Summary: Rising sea temperatures have an impact on the morphological characteristics of marine algae species, especially edge populations of fucoids in subtropical latitudes. Excess thermal tolerance may lead to morphological variations in these species, and ocean warming has significant effects on their growth and distribution.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gian Marco Palamara, Alejandro Rozenfeld, Charles N. de Santana, Jan Klecka, Rodrigo Riera, Victor M. Eguiluz, Carlos J. Melian
Summary: This study examines the impact of fluctuations in landscape connectivity on biodiversity dynamics. The results show that local and regional species richness can increase together in dynamic landscapes, and fluctuations in connectivity can increase the overall number of coexisting species. This clarifies the empirical findings of high biodiversity in both low and high-connected landscapes.
Article
Ecology
J. Vasconcelos, J. Ferro, R. Sousa, A. R. Pinto, R. Riera
Summary: This study aims to provide the first data on the fecundity of P. ordinaria. The results show that their reproductive strategy has seasonal variations, with an increasing trend in the number of vitellogenic oocytes as the spawning season progresses, and significant differences in the size of vitellogenic oocytes among different months.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sergio Rodriguez, Rodrigo Riera, Alain Fonteneau, Silvia Alonso-Perez, Jessica Lopez-Darias
Summary: Atmospheric deposition of desert dust and other aerosols has a significant impact on the open ocean ecosystem and climate by providing essential elements for phytoplankton growth and affecting the composition of the food web. However, direct evidence of its effects on upper trophic levels and fisheries is still limited.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rodrigo Riera, Brian D. Fath, Ada M. Herrera, Ricardo A. Rodriguez
Summary: The goal of testing the theoretical and empirical relationship between ecology and thermodynamics has been difficult to achieve, resulting in the division of ecology into multiple branches. The MaxEnt algorithm is commonly discussed in this field, and a quantitative relationship called the ecological equation of state (EESH) has recently been proposed. However, our analysis from the perspective of Organic Biophysics of Ecosystems (OBEC) reveals that the EESH neglects important analytical similarities, lacks useful variables for determining ecological systems' distance from equilibrium, does not consider the statistical range within which the system is out of danger, and lacks resemblance to previous equations of state. Therefore, we conclude that the EESH does not withstand comparison with prior knowledge and empirical evidence, and cannot be considered an ecological equation of state.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ada M. Herrera, Rodrigo Riera, Ricardo A. Rodriguez
Summary: This article discusses the different levels and indicators of species diversity, suggesting an index that combines species richness and evenness as the most appropriate choice. It also explores the relationship between trophodynamics and species diversity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alejandro Escanez, Angel Guerra, Rodrigo Riera, Fancisco J. Rocha
Summary: This study systematically reviewed and updated the cephalopod species diversity in the Canary Islands, revealing 85 confirmed species, representing approximately 10% of the overall known cephalopod diversity globally. The cephalopod community in the area was dominated by oceanic species, with shelf-slope and coastal species also present.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Arvin Sohrabi, Mousa Meratizaman, Shuli Liu
Summary: This paper simulates and discusses possible solutions to improve the economic and technical performances of a battery-less renewable energy-powered BWRO system under real climate conditions. The study finds that the photovoltaic-based system performs better in terms of specific energy consumption and unused energy ratio.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chunlan Pan, Xiaoyin Hu, Vishal Goyal, Theyab R. Alsenani, Salem Alkhalaf, Tamim Alkhalifah, Fahad Alturise, Hamad Almujibah, H. Elhosiny Ali
Summary: This paper introduces a novel waste heat recovery method using the hot flue gas from a ship's engine to produce liquefied hydrogen while meeting the ship's air-conditioning requirement. A comprehensive feasibility assessment is conducted and an artificial neural network with a multiobjective grey wolf optimization method is used for optimization. The findings indicate the highest mean sensitivity index of the flash temperature and the best optimization scenario for exergy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and liquefied hydrogen cost.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daniele Chinello, Jan Post, Louis C. P. M. de Smet
Summary: In this study, PVDF-based anion-exchange membranes were designed to selectively separate nitrate from chloride. Experimental data showed that increasing the concentration of PVDF enhanced nitrate transport but also increased the membrane electrical resistance. The selectivity of nitrate was found to be independent of the membrane thickness and mainly driven by the increased affinity between the anion and the membrane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Umar Noor, Muhammad Fayyaz Farid, Ammara Sharif, Amna Saleem, Zubair Nabi, Muhammad Furqan Mughal, Kiran Abbas, Toheed Ahmed
Summary: Global water scarcity is increasing, and water desalination is an important solution. Multifunctional advanced materials, such as membrane materials and solar-driven desalination, play a crucial role in water desalination. Additionally, these materials can be used for water purification, wastewater treatment, and pollutant elimination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Emrah Gumus
Summary: With growing global concerns about climate change and environmental impacts, the use of nuclear energy in naval vessels offers a cleaner and more efficient solution to reduce emissions and address water and energy supply challenges. This study explores a novel system that combines a nuclear-driven supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle with reverse osmosis cogeneration to meet the water and electricity demands in maritime operations, enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and self-sufficiency of naval vessels. The results indicate that the system has the potential to be a viable and effective solution for naval operations.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dao Thi Thanh Huyen, Saikat Sinha Ray, Young -Nam Kwon
Summary: This study focuses on the modification of a commercially available polyamide thin-film composite membrane with a zwitterionic material to enhance its fouling resistance. The modified membrane shows improved salt rejection and reduced permeability compared to the pristine membrane. Fouling tests demonstrate that the modified membrane has a lower fouling ratio and higher recovery ratio. The enhanced antifouling characteristics are attributed to the improved hydrophilicity resulting from the zwitterionic brushes and the salting-in effect.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Niklas Koeller, Lukas Mankertz, Selina Finger, Christian J. Linnartz, Matthias Wessling
Summary: This study presents a methodology to scale up Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization (FCDI) technology from lab-scale to pilot-scale systems. By increasing membrane area and using a stacking approach, the FCDI modules were successfully scaled up and achieved a salt transfer rate comparable to lab-scale systems. This provides a foundation for future assessments of energy demand and economics.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mona Gulied, Sifani Zavahir, Tasneem Elmakki, Hyunwoong Park, Guillermo Hijos Gago, Ho Kyong Shon, Dong Suk Han
Summary: This study introduces a novel hybrid system that combines direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) to facilitate seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine enrichment and selective lithium recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiqiang Zhang, Ruifeng Deng, Jiao Zhang, Lu She, Guangfeng Wei, Renyong Jia, Pengyu Xiang, Siqing Xia
Summary: A transmembrane electro-chemisorption system with authigenic acid and base was developed for enhancing ammonia recovery from strong ammonia wastewater. The system efficiently transformed ammonium into free ammonia, which was then adsorbed and recovered through transmembrane chemisorption. This system yielded pure (NH4)2SO4 product and produced valuable byproducts of pure hydrogen and oxygen. Higher applied voltage resulted in better ammonia recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alena Popova, Sandrine Boivin, Takuji Shintani, Takahiro Fujioka
Summary: This study aimed to produce a high-integrity RO membrane by forming a polyamide skin layer on a TE support layer, in order to enhance the integrity of the membrane and improve the microbiological safety of potable water reuse.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sanjana Yagnambhatt, Saber Khanmohammadi, Jonathan Maisonneuve
Summary: This study investigates the concept of using heat to enhance reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The effect of temperature on water permeate flux, specific energy, permeate quality, and applied operating pressures is evaluated using an analytical model. The results suggest that under specific conditions, the tradeoff between savings in mechanical pump work and thermal energy input in thermally-enhanced RO can be favorable, leading to overall energy savings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiangju Si, Chenrui Xue, Shun Li, Linchao Yang, Weiwei Li, Jie Yang, Jihong Lan, Ningbo Sun
Summary: To meet the huge demand for lithium resources, there is an urgent need to develop a new efficient technology for lithium recovery from salt-lake brines. In this study, a selective membrane capacitive deionization system is reported, which achieves high lithium recovery capacity and rate through the use of materials with efficient intercalated pseudo-capacitance and a high specific area porous carbon. The use of a modified thin-coated membrane allows for selective Li+ recovery, and adjusting the concentrations of Li+ and Mg2+ in the feed solution enables higher Li+/Mg2+ selectivity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohamed R. Salem, R. Y. Sakr, Ghazy M. R. Assassa, Omar A. Aly
Summary: This research proposes a new method of using wasted thermal energies as an additional heating source for solar still distillation units (SSDUs) to increase productivity and reduce pollution and global warming. By testing two SSDUs, the study shows that heating airflow can raise temperatures, enhance freshwater production, and improve system thermal efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qimeng Sun, Miao Sun, Linyan Yang, Yuan Gao, Xinghai Zhou, Lihua Lyu, Chunyan Wei
Summary: This study presents an innovative design and fabrication of a fabric-based conical roll (FCR) evaporator, which enables low-temperature evaporation and achieves high evaporation efficiency with excellent thermal management ability. The evaporator has demonstrated advanced light-harvesting capability and can produce freshwater that meets drinking water standards, showing great potential for applications in desalination and sewage treatment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yidong Zhang, Wangfang Deng, Meiyan Wu, Chao Liu, Guang Yu, Qiu Cui, Pedram Fatehi, Chunlin Xu, Bin Li
Summary: In this study, a novel polydopamine-functionalized lignin-containing pulp foam evaporator with high-efficiency desalination and multi-contaminant adsorption capabilities was designed. The foam evaporator showed excellent light absorption, water absorption, thermal conductivity, and chelation abilities, allowing for solar evaporation and contaminant adsorption synergistically. It also exhibited potential applications in metal ion concentration and contaminated seawater treatments, and demonstrated superior biodegradability compared to poly-styrene foam. This foam material holds promise for developing multifunctional photo-thermal systems for solar-driven water purification.
