Water desalination technologies have emerged as a critical area of research in response to the increasing global demand for freshwater, driven by population growth and climate change. Traditional methods such as evaporation and condensation were the first to be utilized for desalination, but recent advancements have introduced more economically feasible and energy-efficient technologies. The field is currently dominated by thermal desalination and reverse osmosis, with electrochemical processes showing significant promise due to their lower energy consumption. Despite the proliferation of over 21,000 seawater desalination plants worldwide, the industry faces substantial cost barriers. Recent studies have focused on improving membrane efficiency and process stability, as well as integrating renewable energy sources to make desalination more sustainable. However, there remains a need for comprehensive research to address these challenges and explore emerging technologies.
This research topic aims to provide a thorough examination of the latest advancements and ongoing challenges in water desalination technologies. The primary objectives include identifying key trends, addressing existing research gaps, and exploring the potential for integrating renewable energy sources with desalination processes. Specific questions to be answered include: How can the cost of desalination be reduced? What are the most promising emerging technologies? How can renewable energy be effectively integrated into desalination processes? The research will also test hypotheses related to the efficiency and sustainability of various desalination methods.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of water desalination technologies, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Renewable energy sources in water desalination
- Membrane-based desalination processes
- Hybrid desalination processes
- Thermal desalination processes
- Electrodialysis
- Filtration
- Exploration of novel desalination technologies and processes
- Systems related to desalination, such as pre-treatment, post-treatment, and integrated plants
- Energy consumption and energy recovery methods
- Resource recovery with a focus on achieving a circular economy in water desalination
- Other related areas

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Frontiers in Water

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