Desalination of Seawater

Seawater Desalination

• Seawater desalination is the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to produce freshwater suitable for various purposes.

Importance of Seawater Desalination

• Provides a reliable source of freshwater in regions facing water scarcity or drought.
• Allows for the diversification of water sources, reducing reliance on limited freshwater supplies.
• Supports agricultural and industrial use through desalinated water.
• Can serve as an emergency water supply system during natural disasters.
• Contributes to global water security by providing a resilient and alternative water supply.

Methods of Seawater Desalination

Thermal Desalination

• Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) Distillation: involves heating seawater in multiple stages to produce steam, which is then condensed into freshwater.
• Multi-Effect Distillation (MED): uses multiple evaporator stages, each operating at progressively lower pressures, to produce freshwater through evaporation and condensation.
• Vapor Compression Distillation (VCD): uses mechanical compressors to increase the pressure of water vapor, allowing for energy-efficient distillation.

Membrane-Based Desalination

• Reverse Osmosis (RO): involves forcing seawater through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure, separating freshwater from salt and other impurities.
• Electrodialysis (ED): applies an electric field across ion-selective membranes to separate ions from seawater, producing freshwater and concentrated brine streams.

Learn about the process of removing salt and impurities from seawater to produce freshwater, suitable for various purposes such as drinking, irrigation, and industrial use.