KAUST develops sustainable desalination membranes that support Vision 2030
In a new scientific achievement that enhances the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading country in the field of water research, scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have succeeded in developing an innovative membrane for water desalination processes, which is characterized by its superior ability to convert seawater and highly concentrated saline solutions into fresh water with unprecedented efficiency.
A quantum leap in desalination technologies
The new innovation relies on a membrane made of industrially expandable polymer, designed to operate efficiently under ambient temperature and pressure conditions, eliminating the need for the high pressures or temperatures required by conventional technologies. These thin membranes feature hydrophobic properties and sub-nanometer-scale pores, allowing only pure water vapor to pass through while precisely blocking salts and contaminants.
Strategic context and importance of the event
This step is of paramount strategic importance given Saudi Arabia's geographical location and water resources. The Kingdom is the world's largest producer of desalinated water, relying primarily on desalination to meet its drinking, agricultural, and industrial needs. Historically, the desalination industry has faced two main challenges: high energy consumption and the environmental impact of brine discharge.
KAUST’s new technology offers a radical solution to these two challenges, as it contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of desalination operations by reducing the energy required for operation, in addition to its unique ability to process highly concentrated brine solutions that are difficult to handle by traditional methods, thus supporting Saudi Arabia’s green initiatives and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in promoting environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
From laboratory to practical application
Professor Noureddine Ghafoor, the study's lead author and a desalination specialist at KAUST, explained that the real challenge lies in the close link between water and energy. He noted that the study demonstrated the possibility of desalinating not only seawater but even highly concentrated solutions with significantly less energy consumption. He added that the university provides an ideal environment for translating this fundamental science into tangible technologies that serve society.
Unlike many innovations that remain confined to research papers, this technology has already entered the pilot evaluation phase on KAUST's campus. The membranes' durability and scalability are currently being tested, amidst significant interest from industry partners in adopting the technology. This bodes well for the future of the water sector in the region and globally, and underscores the role of scientific research in finding sustainable solutions to the challenges of global water scarcity.
