| Title |
Comparative techno-economic and environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems for seawater brine treatment and valorization |
| ID_Doc |
10372 |
| Authors |
Panagopoulos, A; Giannika, V |
| Title |
Comparative techno-economic and environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems for seawater brine treatment and valorization |
| Year |
2022 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.1016/j.seta.2022.102477 |
| Abstract |
Brine from desalination plants has become an environmental issue as the global desalination capacity is increasing. This study presents a techno-economic & environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in the Eastern Mediterranean. In particular, two cases are considered: (i) an MLD system incorporating reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO), and (ii) a ZLD system incorporating RO, FO, brine concentrator (BC) and brine crystallizer (BCr). The results indicated that the energy (6.74 kWh/m(3)) and cost demands (US$0.72/m(3)) in case 1 are lower than in case 2, with energy consumption of 10.36 kWh/m(3) and cost demands of US$0.79/m(3) due to two additional thermal-based technologies. MLD and ZLD systems are both comparable in cost to subsurface water sources; thus, they can be a valuable alternative to subsurface water. Furthermore, both cases are lucrative from the selling of fresh water (from US$195.33/day to 088228.4/day), while the ZLD system is even more lucrative when solid salt is also sold, increasing the profit in case 2 from US$228.4/day to US$247.44/day (8% increase). Overall, the proposed desalination brine treatment systems boost the circular economy and could have significant economic potential in the Eastern Mediterranean and elsewhere. |
| Author Keywords |
Zero liquid discharge (ZLD); Minimal liquid discharge (MLD); Seawater desalination; Brine treatment and valorization; Resource recovery; Desalination brine |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:000847202800005 |
| WoS Category |
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Energy & Fuels |
| Research Area |
Science & Technology - Other Topics; Energy & Fuels |
| PDF |
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